Hire & Rental Magazine August 2025

Haulotte’s Alexandre Sabot speaks exclusively to Hire & Rental Magazine on their 40th Anniversary

Faster

Extreme

JAMES OXENHAM HRIA CEO

Focused on learning

WITH THE START OF THE NEW FINANCIAL ALREADY IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, THERE ARE PLENTY OF MILESTONES THE ASSOCIATIONS ARE AIMING FOR OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

HOOSING WHAT TO FOCUS

Con and delivering improved and new benefits for members is a challenge for any not for profit with limited resources. But with the right planning and a focus on our strategic goals, we are pleased to launch new and revised initiatives for association members and industry stakeholders.

From September 2025, the revised EWPA Yellow Card course will go live. Building on the EWPA’s training since 1987, the Yellow Card course has had several revisions over the years, and for the last 12 years it has been firmly positioned as nationally recognised training. Now capturing the make and model of machines the operators were trained on since 2013, training records are exactly what industry

The HRIA continues to build new safetyfocused courses for 2025.

needs to ensure product specific training. With investment in a new Learning Management System, statements of attainment and training records are stored securely in a digital wallet, keeping us up to date with the way operators now use devices. Verification of Competency (VoC) is also on the increase, and we are pleased to offer tailored solutions from our EWPA Accredited Trainers so that EWP operators can build on their original training.

The HRIA’s Women in Hire and Young Professionals Development programs have opened again. The programs have been so successful that participants who were once mentees and have developed in their careers are now coming back to mentor others.

The HRIA continues to build upon its suite of online learning for members. Starting with Chain of Responsibility and load restraint, new courses for 2025 include Manual Handling Fundamentals, Pedestrian Safety around Mobile Plant, First Aid: Initial Response, First Aid: Soft tissue Injuries and First Aid: CPR.

On top of the strong safety focussed training, the HRIA is looking forward to delivering its second annual Business Leadership Conference following last year’s successful launch. Turn to page 52 for more details on this year’s event.

In the second half of 2025, we will be focusing on the TSHA’s Gold Card training program revision. This will help operators of telehandlers meet their duty of care training needs, in an ever-changing compliance landscape.

For more information on training and development available through the Associations, please check out our websites, follow us on social media, come along to state meetings, connect with your state committee and of course, feel free to call the national office. T

HAULOTTE'S 40 YEAR LEGACY OF INNOVATION

WITH HAULOTTE CELEBRATING 40 YEARS IN BUSINESS AND PICKING UP TWO INDUSTRY EXCELLENCE AWARDS AT HIRE25, HIRE & RENTAL MAGAZINE TALKS EXCLUSIVELY WITH GLOBAL CEO, ALEXANDRE SAUBOT, AS HE REFLECTS ON THE COMPANY’S LEGACY OF INNOVATION AND HIS VISION FOR THE FUTURE.

ALEXANDRE SAUBOT KNOWS a thing or two about the Australian EWP market. His company, Haulotte, celebrates 40 years of operations in 2025, including the last 26 of those in Australia.

He makes the long trip to Australia from his home in France annually, spending time with the local Haulotte team, meeting customers and, as he’s done many times before, attending the HRIA’s annual convention. This year, Alexandre also addressed the Global Access Meeting to talk about the Group’s long-standing commitment to sustainability and innovation and evolving to reflect changing market dynamics and growing competition.

The Haulotte story began in 1985 when Alexandre’s father Pierre, took over PinguelyHaulotte from the French group, Creusot Loire.

“We had a feeling that my father wanted to have his own business and was looking for an

opportunity,” recalls Alexandre. “He convinced my mother to sell the family home and invest everything in a small French business with two factories and around 40 people. It was a brave decision and to be honest, I'm not sure I would be brave enough to make the same one.”

His father, in reflecting on the decision, called it a ‘bold gamble and in retrospect, almost foolish’. French industry was going through a crisis so investing all his savings in a heavy engineering company seemed unreasonable. Yet Pierre had a strategy. Realising the business was too small to successfully compete in a mature market, he took a chance on an emerging market in Europe — aerial work platforms — that offered opportunity and space to lead the sector.

It was a decision that paved the way for Haulotte’s rapid expansion in the access industry.

In 1999, Alexandre joined his father’s company, running a small subsidiary north of Paris. It was a

Alexandre Saubot with Haulotte’s two awards received at HIRE25.

steep learning curve that led to the CFO position until he eventually took over from his father when he stepped back from the business.

With 40 years of business now behind them, Alexandre says their success has been a combination of hard work and luck.

“The luck is that we picked a product where the competition was reasonable and there were opportunities in an emerging market,” he says.

“The second thing of course, is hard work. I believe very much in luck, and the more I work, the more luck I create.”

“Finally, it’s this idea of being in a position to better understand what your customers are looking for and using that information to drive your R&D.”

Haulotte now employs around 2,000 people globally in 20 branches. Australia is one of their biggest and most successful branches which Alexandre says is a good example of what Haulotte want to do and how they want to work.

“People sometimes forget that an EWP is just a tool that is in fact, doing nothing,” says Alexandre. “It's just bringing someone to the position they need to be so they can work.”

“And it's always that question of finding the right balance between efficiency, safety and what is the job to be done.”

He recalls a discussion with a French work inspector who came onto a job site, looked at the basket and suggest that when the operator was in the basket, it was risky.

“He told me the operator could fall and suggested it would be nice to add a cage on top of the basket to make it 100 per cent safe. Our response was ‘yes’ but with the cage on top of the basket, the worker can’t do their job and the tool becomes useless.”

“So I think the history of the EWP has always been about finding the right balance between safety and efficiency.”

For Haulotte, that balance starts with listening to their customers.

“We’re always trying to better understand how our customers use the machines,” says Alexandre. “To be honest, we can’t deliver 100 per cent of what they ask for because it’s simply too expensive. But we’ll always offer the best compromise in terms of safety, environment, efficiency and cost and that’s what’s driven our business for 40 years.

It's one of the reasons that Australia remains such an important market to Haulotte globally.

“Having been coming to Australia and having this discussion for more than 20 years, it’s the interest of our Australian customers in sharing information that’s helping us find solutions. That’s what’s keeps driving our business.”

Asking customers for feedback is one thing; bringing a new feature into a product however can have consequences.

“When you present ideas to a customer on paper, they’re pleased you’ve listened to them but when you convert that idea into a product or part of a product, it could impact cost, maintenance or weight,” he says. To show customers their ideas and the real impact on the product, Haulotte made a prototype about 15 years ago which included 50 innovations.

Ten of those innovations have now been incorporated into a product which Alexandre acknowledges is a high transformation rate. And as for the prototype? A customer asked if he could buy it a few months ago.

“I told him you will like the machine, but you won't like the price.”

One of the innovations that’s now one of their newest products is My Companion, which they demonstrated at HIRE25. It’s a QR code that provides all the information an operator needs when using a Haulotte EWP.

By scanning the code, operators have instant access to operator manuals, maintenance books, spare parts catalogues and controls overview videos.

“It’s such basic simplicity, but it’s made it easier and safer for operators,” says Alexandre. “It's linked to the serial number of the machine and will always be the updated version.”

Today, with the rapid pace of innovation and the rate at which technology is evolving, Alexandre says that AI will play a role in the future.

“It's one of our biggest challenges for the moment due to the volume of technical data that’s collected,” he says. “However, not every end user will have the same expectation. That’s where AI will also be useful in converting this mass of information into something of value to the customer.”

It could be something as simple as using the telematics to look at what heights and capacities the customer is working at.

Haulotte’s Australian team celebrate at HIRE25.

“Like everyone else, Australian customers are sensitive to price, but they’re also looking at the safety and features of the product.”

“The customer might say, ‘I need a 20-meter boom lift’, but if they're only ever going to 10 meters, why not get a 12 or 15-meter boom lift instead that will cost less money?”

“Our view is that the future, in terms of AI, will be that hire companies can go to their customers with detailed information and demonstrate potential cost savings. We find people are overstating the requirement because they’re scared they won't be able to do what they think they could do. I think the next step is to be able to say to the customer that on this job site for this standard work, you need 16 meters, no more. That means cost savings.”

“By providing this information to hire companies we can help them convince more customers to move away from equipment ownership and become part of the circular economy. That's amazing value.”

Having been in Australia for 26 years, Haulotte understands the value of the local market.

“Australia is a very important market for us,” says Alexandre. “We became number one a few years ago and have built our market share on the strength of our customer relationships.”

“It’s also a market that fits our approach, particularly with regards to safety, technology and innovation. Like everyone else, Australian customers are sensitive to price, but they’re also looking at the safety and features of the product.”

He says Australia is a country that’s helped them to grow, think about the future and see the risks of over regulation.

“Although we sell safety, I think it's always this question of balance between safety and efficiency.”

“Our approach is to do everything we can to build this loyalty and be there for the long term,” he says. “Whatever the machine’s lifespan is,

whether it’s five, 10 or 15 years, we want to be there whenever our customers need us.”

With a legacy of 40 years in the access business, Alexandre doesn’t see any big changes in philosophy as they plan for the future.

“We’ve always looked towards the long term with honesty,” he says.

“Whatever the problem is, we’ll face it and then try to figure out the best possible solution in the balance of safety, cost and efficiency.”

He believes this approach will remain, although it will be more closely linked to the evolution of technology and AI.

“One day, we may be able to make the boom in much lighter elements like composites instead of steel which would make sense,” says Alexandre. “But for now, the balance between cost and risk is too high so we’ll stay with what we know.”

“That’s what will keep driving the business.”

Alexandre also believes there’s great opportunity, especially in the construction sector.

“When you look long term, construction has the lowest productivity and the reason is pretty simple: it’s because every construction site is a prototype, it's new. Even if you try to replicate things, it's a new environment with different constraints… and that makes it difficult.”

“The intelligence we can bring on the platform is the perfect tool, because it allows you to know where people are and what they are doing.”

“And if one day that can help improve productivity in the construction sector, the opportunities will be amazing.”

Haulotte secured two major awards at HIRE25: Supplier of the Year Access and Best New Product Access for MyCompanion.

Alexandre Saubot addresses the Global Access Meeting.

UNLOCKING THE DOOR TO A CAREER IN HIRE

THE HRIA’S 2025 YOUNG PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR BELIEVES THE FUTURE OF THE HIRE INDUSTRY IS IN GOOD HANDS.

ASK TOM LYNCH WHAT’S been his greatest takeaway from the HRIA’s Young Professionals Development Program and the answer is easy – an increase in self-awareness and the opportunity to tap into a network of people who are destined to lead the hire industry into the future.

Tom’s career in Hire began in 2020 when he was appointed Account Manager at the Coffs Harbour branch of Master Hire. Back then, he’d been living in Melbourne doing a sales role in industrial packaging but due to a change in personal circumstances, Tom was keen to return to Coffs Harbour, where he’d previously lived.

2025 Young Professional of the Year, Tom Lynch.

“Five years ago when I knew nothing about the hire industry, people took a chance on me.”

He applied for the role despite knowing nothing about the hire industry.

“I bounced the idea off a friend as I didn’t know what working in hire would be like,” says Tom. “He told me he had a mate in the industry and that he reckoned it was a great place to work.”

Tom also took the opportunity to call into the branch and introduce himself to the branch manager. A few weeks later, he received a phone call from Master Hire’s Managing Director Scott Marchant and after interviewing with Scott and Master Hire’s General Manager, Marketing (and national president of the HRIA), Jeremy Shaw, he was offered the role.

That was August 2020. Five years later, after completing the HRIA’s Young Professionals Development Program, Tom is the HRIA’s 2025 Young Professional of the Year.

The HRIA Young Professional of the Year recognises young professionals who’ve contributed to the Hire industry and thrived within the Young Professionals Development Program.

“This program unlocks the door to the whole of our industry,” says Tom. “It’s fun and engaging, you make new friends and meet people who are destined to have an impact on your life.”

“There's just no downside to do it.”

It was Jeremy Shaw who first suggested Tom consider the HRIA’s Young Professionals Development Program.

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“In June last year, Jeremy rang me from HIRE24 (in Brisbane) and said I should come along to the Young Professionals/Women in Hire networking event. That was the first I'd heard of the programs and as I was already in Brisbane, I went along to see what it was all about,” he recalls.

“My first impression was that everyone was so pumped for each other, and I thought that was pretty cool. I realised there must be something special about this program.”

When it came time to register for the 2024/25 intake, Tom jumped at the chance with the support of his management team.

Tom was 38 when his intake commenced, putting him at the higher end of the program’s age requirements. Having been in the industry for a while, he was keen to learn everything he could but was initially unsure how much he’d get out of it.

“I've been to a few things like this before and I was looking around the room thinking most of the cohort were at the start of their hire journey and would likely take a lot more from this than I would.”

But that all changed when he had a one-on-one feedback session with program facilitator, Aileen Hiskins of Strategic Alignment Training, giving him his ‘light bulb’ moment.

“Aileen spoke about what she saw in me, in my personality type and how I interact with people,” says Tom. “This was somebody who really understood me.”

At the next session on self-awareness, he wrote down his goal: dig internally and apply externally.

“I'm in a very forward-facing role and I've always been quite social,” he says.

“However, I’m also an introvert which doesn’t necessarily mean I’m a quiet shy person. Instead, introverts are people who think about what they say before they say it. We’re more comfortable

taking the time to do something rather than just responding or acting on whatever's happening.”

It’s one of Tom’s key takeaways from the program. Now, he regularly steps back and reflects on his interactions with customers and coworkers to see where he could do better.

Looking back on the program, he says the use of mentors was a huge benefit. Tom was partnered with Ruairi Mawn, Business Unit Leader from Select Plant Australia.

“These mentors have been in the industry forever and that’s incredibly valuable,” says Tom.

“Ruairi has got a strong business mind so I could share my ideas and thoughts and he’d help me make real business sense of them. As a result of everything we talked about, my business acumen has improved significantly.”

While Tom’s time on the program is now over, he’s in no doubt that the relationship with Ruairi will continue. “I can phone him anytime,” says Tom, “and if he’s in town (Coffs Harbour), we’ll catch up for a coffee or a beer.”

Having clocked up five years in hire, Tom’s now a passionate advocate for the industry.

“It’s such a unique industry in that we supply to our competitors, they supply to us and everyone keeps ticking along. You just don't hear of that anywhere else.”

That’s highlighted by the opportunities the program affords participants to network outside the facilitated sessions.

“Six months ago, one of my customers required something that we didn't have, but I knew one of my fellow mentees did,” he says. “I was able to call him, organise the equipment and we got the deal done for my customer.”

As for the future, Tom’s happy to stay at Master Hire and has just been promoted to the position of Regional Manager for Northern NSW.

“We have a fantastic company culture and I want to stay with the business,” he says.

“Five years ago, when I knew nothing about the hire industry, people took a chance on me, including Scott, Jeremy and my manager Charles. Their passion, drive and ability to get things done is inspirational. They’ve literally taught me everything I now know about the hire industry and are some of the most influential people in my life right now.”

He also believes the Young Professionals Development Program has been a life-changing experience.

“If you’re a manager or business owner and you see potential in someone that you've got working in your company, get them involved in this program. It’s creating the future leaders of hire and from what I've seen, that means our industry is in good hands.” T

Tom celebrates his award with mentor, Ruairi Mawn.

COATES APPOINTED NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT STOCKPILE (NEMS) PANEL

THE NEMS PANEL IS AN AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE THAT BRINGS TOGETHER TRUSTED LOCAL SUPPLIERS OF ESSENTIAL EMERGENCY GOODS AND SERVICES UNDER A STREAMLINED PURCHASING SYSTEM.

THE PANEL ENABLES

government agencies to quickly access critical resources, such as generators and flood mitigation equipment, before and during crisis and emergency response situations.

Through this panel, agencies can now engage Coates to provide a range of and specialist services:

• Power generation equipment

• Dewatering (flood) pumps

• Storage containers

• Fuel storage

• Marquees

• Semi-rigid shelters and tents

“Being selected for the NEMS panel reinforces Coates’ role as a trusted partner in Australia’s emergency response efforts,” said Stephen Cowan, Chief Commercial Officer, Coates. “With our national branch network, logistics capability and proven experience providing equipment and temporary infrastructure for natural disasters, we’re ready to help emergency services respond quickly and ensure communities receive the support they need.”

Coates has a long history of working with emergency response agencies, including the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) and NSW State Emergency Service (SES), to provide hire equipment and end-to-end site solutions during major natural disasters.

During the 2022 Northern Rivers floods, for example, Coates established a 500-bed base camp for the NSW RFS at Wollongbar in just 48 hours. The team delivered a fully equipped site with toilets, showers, air-conditioning for tents, flooring and walkways, lighting towers, generators, fuel and essential consumables to support frontline responders at a critical time.

Coates also provided equipment, services and expertise to other organisations and agencies involved in the response effort, including Resilience NSW, Department of Communities and Justice, NSW Health, local councils and Veolia Waste Management.

“Australian communities hit by disaster, along with the emergency workers supporting them, need access to vital resources, including emergency power, clean water and sanitation facilities, to protect lives and begin the recovery process. Our teams are on the ground — often within hours.

“The last thing agencies want to worry about during an emergency is services like sewage pump outs, cleaning and even the basics like toilet paper. By providing these services, we can reduce the operational burden on agencies and allow them to stay focused on frontline response,” said Cowan.

Coates is signed to the panel effective immediately through to June 30, 2027.

Government agencies preparing for, or dealing with, an emergency or crisis and need access to the Panel to hire or purchase goods and services available under the Panel, can contact: NEMSpaneloperations@nema.gov.au | (02) 5127 8353. T

Zoomlion Access Expands Local Support Network Across Australia

ZOOMLION ACCESS HAS STRENGTHENED ITS COMMITMENT TO THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET BY ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE LOCAL SUPPORT NETWORK, WITH FOUR KEY BRANCHES STRATEGICALLY POSITIONED IN MELBOURNE, SYDNEY, BRISBANE, AND PERTH.

The Melbourne headquarters serves as its central operations base, featuring a strategically located 5,695sqm depot at 63-69 Ricketts Road, Mt Waverley. Sydney, Brisbane and Perth branches occupy 1,750sqm, 2,054 sqm and 1,250 sqm, respectively. All branches are equipped to deliver regionally tailored solutions to address specific market requirements.

Stephen Li, General Manager of Zoomlion Australia-New Zealand Pty Ltd, emphasised the importance of localised support: "Our growing network across Australia reflects our dedication to delivering responsive and professional service. By investing in local infrastructure and expertise, we empower our partners to achieve more with reliable, cutting-edge access solutions."

In addition to the officewarehouse complex, Zoomlion maintains supplementary warehouses across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, ensuring comprehensive coverage and enhanced service reliability. T

FROM PA TO MANAGING DIRECTOR: HOW DAWNIE PIEPER FORGED A CAREER IN HIRE

DAWNIE PIEPER IS A TRAILBLAZER IN ADVOCATING FOR WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION AND FOSTERING A DIVERSE, INCLUSIVE AND SAFE WORKPLACE. SHE’S ALSO A BIG BELIEVER IN HAVING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE, AN OPEN MIND AND A PASSION FOR LEARNING.

THE HIRE INDUSTRY WAS never on Dawnie Pieper’s career radar. In fact, she’d be the first to tell you that she came into the hire industry by chance.

She started out as a receptionist and PA at a steel constructions company and when they started a new hire division, she was asked if she’d like to take on a Sales Administrator role.

“I probably said no about 10 times because I knew nothing about access equipment, the rental industry or construction,” says Dawnie. Regardless, she gave it a go.

Initially, she ‘hid’ behind a computer and phone, talking to customers, studying equipment catalogues ‘like there was no tomorrow’, and learning everything she could. She also took the opportunity to learn from everyone in the office, including the sales reps, service managers and senior management.

“Throughout my career, there haven’t been many females onsite,” she says, “so you’d always find someone who’d be quick to jump on the

bandwagon, to try and prove you wrong or question your knowledge.

“That’s why my mentality has always been to be prepared.”

On her first site visit, she was dropped off by her sales manager to talk to a construction customer onsite.

“I thought he’d be joining me for the meeting, but he said no, you’re on your own,” she says. “He told me it could go one of two ways: if it’s bad, I’d be out in five minutes; but if it’s really good, I’d be an hour.”

For Dawnie, it was a sink or swim moment.

“Fortunately, the customer was fantastic. We met for about 30-40 minutes and when I came out, I had a beaming smile and a realisation that I can do this.”

What she discovered in that first solo meeting was that people weren’t as intimidating or unapproachable as she had imagined and that realisation became the spark that ignited her career in hire.

That first meeting was more than a decade ago. Since then, she’s been a state sales manager, general manager and today, is the Managing Director of her own company, Pieper Hire, based in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

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Pieper Hire opened in 2024. It’s an ambitious, female-led construction equipment hire company that’s on a mission to advocate for sustainability, diversity and community empowerment. They specialise in access and material handling equipment and offer training programs to improve operator skills and expand capabilities.

Dawnie says starting Pieper Hire was more than a business venture, it was a dream come true.

“Every day, I wake up determined to drive this industry forward, not just for women, but for anyone ready to work hard and make their mark.”

“In this industry you have to learn fast,” she says. “I’ve been enabled by having really good people around me with the knowledge I don’t have but you’ve still got to have the right attitude, an open mind and want to learn.”

She also learns from mistakes — her own and the mistakes of others.

“It can seem really hard and at times, you think the world might end, but you’ve got to remember all those times you felt the same and yet you still got through it,” says Dawnie.

“This industry is built on resilience, regardless of where you are, what you're doing and what you've been through.”

It’s part of the reason why she’s passionate about women in hire and the Women in Hire development program.

“In this industry you have to learn fast.”

“I want young women in this industry to see that I haven’t come through a family business,” she says. “I started from a role that someone might think is insignificant but it’s not and have since worked hard to build something that’s sustainable.”

While her company is small, Dawnie’s team know their voices will be heard.

“If anyone's going to have the biggest impact and opinion, it's the team,” she says. “Their opinions matter because they're the ones in front of our customers selling my business. So, fostering that kind of inclusive workplace is huge for me.”

It’s a goal that’s inspiring her to create a different kind of workplace at Pieper Hire.

“This industry has always been very seven to five, but it doesn't have to be,” says Dawnie. “If we’re going to attract a more diverse workforce across the industry, we have to create an environment and culture that shows people they’re valued.”

It’s a philosophy Dawnie has carried with her since her early days in the industry and which she now lives and breathes at Pieper Hire.

“Stepping into this industry wasn’t just a career move; it was the best decision I ever made,” she says.

“From the clients who became friends to the colleagues who became mentors, if you’ve got the right attitude, are prepared to do the hard work and never stop learning, then why can't you be the next Pieper Hire?” T

Dawnie Pieper shares her insights on the Business Growth Essentials panel at HIRE25.

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG

OWNER OF UK-BASED, VERTIKAL, LEIGH SPARROW, WAS RECENTLY INVITED TO SPEAK AT THE GLOBAL ACCESS MEETING AT HIRE25 ON HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH MARKETS WHEN INCIDENTS HAPPEN.

COMPANIES WORKING with equipment at height are likely, with time, to experience some form of incident. A strong safety culture with plenty of good quality, up-to-date training, quality risk assessments and good supervision, dramatically reduces the risk of something going wrong, but it cannot eliminate it entirely.

How you handle an event after receiving one of those dreaded calls from site is largely within your control; and it can have a substantial impact on your company’s reputation. Handled well, it can define your reputation. Done badly, it can kill your business.

Too many companies — contractors, hirers and equipment manufacturers — feel the best tactic is to shut down external communication and try to bury the incident. That inevitably backfires; people talk, everyone has a camera, gossip spreads quickly. With smart phones and social media, the rumour mill explodes, and truth invariably gets corrupted.

In a recent case, a work platform suffered a catastrophic failure on site; two men were seriously hurt. It happened one Monday morning, and by midday Vertikal.net was taking calls asking if we have heard about the serious accident at an Amazon construction site. Minutes later, a photo arrived. Within three hours, social media was ablaze with posts detailing the ‘facts’, most

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of which were simply wrong about what had happened to the men, the location and even the hire company that had supplied the machine.

We then had a call from an industry association asking if we could publish something, having been inundated with calls that they weren’t able to answer.

However, we were still in the process of fact checking and the contractor had suspended all communication, warning staff not to speak to anyone, while its PR department were told not take any calls from the press.In the vacuum, some took it upon themselves to circulate their version of events. Among them was a senior staffer with a major contractor, and the owner of an access hire company, who saw an opportunity to undermine a competitor.

A ‘letter’ and photo to major contractors from the senior equipment manager at a global contractor, stated:

“Although this is unrelated to my company, I thought you should be made aware of it. The incident happened at an Amazon warehouse in xxx, the cherry picker was being used by electrical contractors. The reason I have this image is a lifelong friend was in that cherry picker.”

“The company it was hired from - xyzzy - was called out several times last week due to juddering and strange noises, they visited again two hours before the incident, citing it as safe to use. The police are going to arrest its director on suspicion of manslaughter.”

Everything in italics is factually incorrect.

Another email stated equally inaccurate ‘facts’ but named another hire company that was not involved, although bearing a similar name to the rental firm involved.

We eventually managed to confirm the details beyond all doubt by Tuesday and posted a news report, that put a stop to further social media speculation. However, the contractor remains in lockdown mode and continues to sustain reputational damage. The manufacturer’s reaction was ‘textbook’; issuing a letter to customers stating what it knew and advising owners of similar units to withdraw them from service while it investigated. Disappointingly, the OEM has not been given access to the machine by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive — the UK’s national equivalent to Safe Work) so is still unsure of the cause having been unable to replicate the incident. The UK’s HSE has handled the case appallingly.

In a different example we received a photo of a crane on its side on construction site, it seemed clear what had happened, but we had no idea when or where it occurred. We called the hire company, whose owner (lets call him Geoff) reluctantly explained what had occurred ‘off the record’. We

persuaded him to allow us to publish the specifics. While Geoff wanted us to remove his brand name from the boom, he eventually agreed that it could be left, given so much imagery was already in the public domain. It was a story of operator error, and our story advised readers of the steps required to prevent it happening again. Geoff’s candidness was widely applauded and resulted in enhancing his reputation, while simultaneously ending unfactual rumours and those exploiting bad news.

Some years later Geoff had a near miss in his yard that no one would have ever known about. He sent us the CCTV footage with details of what went wrong. Once again, he his reputation was burnished for sharing.

The moral is, be like Geoff: tell your story, help others avoid a similar incident. T

Leigh Sparrow, Vertikal

AI IN HIRE SOFTWARE: FROM BUZZWORD TO BUSINESS BOOSTER

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IS MAKING HEADLINES EVERYWHERE. IN HIRE, HOWEVER, THE FOCUS IS LESS ON HYPE AND MORE ON HELPING TEAMS DO THEIR JOBS BETTER. THE QUESTION ISN’T IF AI HAS A PLACE IN HIRE SOFTWARE; IT’S HOW WELL IT FITS INTO THE WORK HIRE BUSINESSES DO EVERY DAY.

POINT OF RENTAL IS LEANING into that challenge by keeping their focus squarely on usefulness. The feature suite they’re building is called Rental Intelligence (RI).

“We’re building AI that solves real problems our users have,” says Matt Gaffin, Head of AI at Point of Rental. “If an AI tool doesn’t save you time or help you make a better decision, then what’s the point?”

Tools that speak the language of hire

That approach is behind this year’s Product Supercharger, the company’s first RMS-centred AI feature. It allows hire companies to quickly expand product details, both internally and on their website.

Just enter a product make and model, and Supercharger creates short and long item descriptions, even adding specs. It’s trained to check OEM documentation before writing, making it more accurate than simply plugging it into a public LLM and copy/pasting the results.

The company has also trained an AI chatbot on its documentation, allowing RMS users to dive into the knowledge base and ask questions instead of needing to find the right document for the process they’re needing help with.

It’s focused, practical, and integrated — because in the hire industry, you don’t have time to mess around,” says Matt.

These assistants are built into the user interface, so they don’t require another app or a learning curve — they’re just there when you need them, like a well-informed colleague.

Built with (and for) hire teams

As AI tools become more powerful, Point of Rental’s approach to development remains

grounded. The RI team prioritises transparency, usability, and user feedback.

From early testing to interface design, the tools are shaped by hire professionals — mechanics, sales reps, and back-office staff who’ll actually use them.

“We don’t want to surprise anyone with AI that feels like a black box,” said Matt. “It’s got to be intuitive, and people need to trust what it’s doing.”

RI is the big initiative at Point of Rental for the rest of 2025, with more features already in the pipeline, including AI-powered forecasting, demanddriven pricing, and smarter maintenance tracking.

From grunt work to great decisions

What ties all these developments together is a clear philosophy: RI should be a teammate, not a talking point. It needs to take on repetitive work, surface insights faster, and help hire experts focus on what they do best — making decisions and serving customers.

While others talk up AI, Point of Rental is putting it to work for the hire industry. T

IT’S ALL IN THE TIMING REGISTERING ON THE PPS REGISTER

A TIMELY REGISTRATION ON THE PERSONAL PROPERTY SECURITIES REGISTER (PPSR) CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROTECTING YOUR RIGHTS AS SECURED CREDITOR OR LOSING PRIORITY TO, OR YOUR GOODS ALTOGETHER.

IMPORTANT TIMEFRAMES TO be aware of Section 267 of the iPersonal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) (PPSA)

Under section 267 if you have a security interest, for example, in equipment that you have hired to a grantor, and that grantor enters into ‘insolvency’, and you have not registered on the PPSR or otherwise perfected your security interest, your equipment will ‘vest’ or become part of the grantor’s property. The insolvency referred to in this section is, for a corporate grantor, winding up, administration, execution of a deed of company arrangement, appointment of a restructuring practitioner, or the making of a restructuring plan (Corporate Insolvency Event), and in relation to an individual, bankruptcy.

There are a few exceptions to this rule in section 268 of the PPSA. They include if the security interest does not secure payment or performance of an obligation and arises from a transfer of an account or chattel paper or a commercial consignment. A PPS Lease is not covered as an exception.

Rebecca

Hegarty

Partner, Bartier

Perry

Registration made, but not in time

If your customer grants you a security interest and is a company, section 588FL of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) requires you to register on the PPSR by the latest of the following times:

a) within 20 business days from the date the security agreement came into force (or the time that is the Critical Time — whichever is the earlier); or

b) 6 months before the date that is the Critical Time.

Each Corporate Insolvency event will have a specific ‘Critical Time’, being the date when the event is deemed to have commenced. If your security interest is not registered by the timing set out in section 588FL, this section will deem the security interest unenforceable unless you seek an order of the Supreme or Federal Court of Australia under section 588FM of the Corporations Act.

Power of the Court to fix a later time

The Court has power under section 588FM of the Corporations Act to prevent the security interest from vesting in the grantor by extending the date of registration and fixing a later registration time. However, to make such an order the Court will need to be satisfied that:

(a) the failure to register in time was accidental or inadvertent;

(b) the delay in registering will not prejudice the position of creditors or shareholders; or

For over a century, KAESER has been more than a manufacturer. We’ve been an engineering partner, providing efficient, reliable compressed air so you can concentrate on what matters most. From Germany to Australia, our commitment to you has never changed. In 2025, KAESER Australia celebrates 35 years of serving your industry, and we couldn’t be prouder. At KAESER, we have your back. au.kaeser.com

Regularly review your customer's solvency position.

(c) on other grounds that demonstrate it is just and equitable to make the order.

These applications are costly and require you to act promptly.

Are there any exceptions to section 588FL of the Corporations Act?

There are a few exceptions which relate to security interests that do not secure payment or performance of an obligation and are a:

a) transfer of an account or chattel paper;

b) commercial consignment;

c) PPS Lease, if paragraph (e) (serial numbered goods) of the definition of a PPS Lease applies to the lease and none of the other paragraphs apply.

The issue with (c) above is that currently there is no paragraph (e) to the PPS Lease section of the PPSA. It is arguable that this may just apply to goods or equipment that are deemed to be serial numbered goods under a PPS Lease and meet the duration requirements, however this is not guaranteed.

Key takeaways

Navigating the timing can be tricky. We offer our top 3 tips:

1. Promptly register on the PPSR

2. Regularly review your customer’s solvency position

3. Seek an extension from the Court promptly if you do not fit into an exception.

This article is not legal advice and the views and comments are of a general nature only. This article is not to be relied upon in substitution for detailed legal advice.

WHEN AUSSIE PUMPS INTRODUCED

THE AUSSIE COBRA 4,000 PSI DRAIN CLEANER, THE FIRST HIRE COMPANY TO REALISE THE POTENTIAL WAS KENNARDS.

A COBRAS FOR HIRE

USSIE PUMPS SAW IT AS a revolt by plumbers against the 80-year-old concept of the Electric Eel.

“The Eels are now out, according to Aussie Pumps anyway, and the Cobra Jetters are in!” said chief engineer, John Hales.

“Aussie got started with this when they realised there were over 100,000 plumbers in Australia who were still using those archaic and sometimes painful Eels” John added.

“One major problem is drawing the spirals from the drain. Often it can leave the plumber filthy with excrement and leave the site untidy and smelly! The beauty of the Jetter is that it flushes away the waste as it clears the drain.”

According to Hales, the average time taken to clear a blocked drain — even one choked with tree roots — is around 20 minutes.

Hirer’s can get the job done and then use the same machine to clean down a driveway with the wash down gun that comes with every Aussie Jetter machine.

Aussie found that the most popular machine for hire is 4,000 psi and 20 lpm combination in the Cobra range. The Cobra and King Cobra are all Class A, so no operator certification is required by the current Safety Standards.

Aussie only uses “Big Berty” Bertolini pumps made in Northern Italy. These high-quality, heavy duty triplex pumps feature solid ceramic pistons, a big brass head.

“We call them ‘Big Bertys’ because the crank cases are heavily finned and substantially bigger than competitor brands. That gives you more oil and therefore more cooling capacity and lubricity in the crankcase, which can be a big benefit in highambient operations,” Hales added.

The Aussie Cobras come with a complete tool kit with a range of nozzles including the unique Aussie innovation — the Turbo Nozzle.

Aussie Pumps' chief engineer, John Hales.

“By combining the conventional turbo kit with a reverse jet nozzle system, we were able to get both penetration and root cutting in the same process,” said Hales.

“It really works and with the drought coming on we’re going to see more tree root infestations blocking sewer lines throughout the drought affected areas.”

Aussie makes Class A — 5,000 psi machines as well, again meaning operators do not require certification.

To level this, Australian Pump Industries offer all members of the HRIA free access to their Safety Training Program, as well as their training course on Safe Jetter Operation.

“Anybody renting pressure cleaners or jetters needs to do both training courses,” said Hales.

Safety is vital to Aussie Pumps, so the need for proper instruction when it comes to using their machines is all-important.

To find out more, visit aussiepumps.com.au 02 8865 3500

ELEVATING

ABN 32 545 830 419

EWPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President

Glover Tel: 0419 663 863

Vice President

Nuttall Tel: 03 9547 7700

Past

Rawlings Tel: 08 9350 570

Chief

Oxenham Tel: 02 9998 2222

NSW

Schubert Tel: 0458 770 002

VIC

Tel: 0400 369 900

QLD

Gannon Tel: 0437 477 279

SA

Tel: 0473 217 310

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR:

Peter

Tel: 02 8796 50551

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR:

Peter Wenn Tel: 03 9568 7211

James Nightingale Tel: 0457 110 110

Tony Fish Tel: 0427 115 711 TELESCOPIC

PRESIDENT

849 107

EWPA & TSHA

9998 2222

JOHN GLOVER EWPA President

Everything we do is designed to stop people getting hurt

IN LIGHT OF RECENT INCIDENTS INVOLVING MOBILE ELEVATING WORK PLATFORMS (MEWPS), I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO REVISIT THE EWPA GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE. HIS IMPORTANT RESOURCE has recently undergone a comprehensive update by our Technical Director, reflecting the latest changes in the AS 2550.10:2025 MEWP Safe Use Standard. The updated guide provides clear guidance on safe operation for MEWP users, as well as maintenance obligations for equipment owners.

After months of detailed work, we’ve also updated the EWPA Yellow Card Training Material — more information on this can be found on page 42. With worker safety as our top priority, the EWPA continues to conduct regular audits of our Accredited Trainers to ensure the highest standards of training are consistently met.

Learn

about these new [Australian Standards] safety features and promote them to your customers.

At HIRE25 in June, we proudly recognised the outstanding contribution of our trainers for the first time. At the Global Access meeting, David Pickard was honoured with the inaugural EWPA Yellow Card Accredited Trainer of the Year Award. As an industry, we understand that high-quality training saves lives, and it’s vital that we celebrate those who lead the way.

With new MEWPs now being delivered to meet the updated AS 1418.10:2025 Design Standard, customers are beginning to notice significant improvements in functionality and safety — similar to the advancements seen in modern vehicles compared to those from 2011. My recommendation: learn about these new safety features and promote them to your customers. After all, we all share the goal of a safer industry — where every worker goes home safely at the end of the day. b

Ausa brand beefs up JLG’s offering

AS THE NEWS SPREADS ABOUT JLG ADDING AUSA TO THEIR GROWING PRODUCT RANGE, WE LOOK INTO THE SIGNIFICANCE THIS GLOBAL ACQUISITION OF THIS PREMIUM BRAND WILL HAVE — FOR BOTH THE COMPANY AND THEIR AUSTRALIAN CUSTOMERS.

Since 1983, JLG has been a market leader in access and lighting equipment, with an established presence across Australia and New Zealand. AUSA’s industry-leading dumpers and rough-terrain forklifts, combined with the acclaimed existing JLG range, mean that JLG has just taken another major stride in expanding their overall offering. Whilst AUSA products have been available in Australia for nearly 3 decades, this signifies the first time the product will be offered by a direct-to-market OEM. The support that comes with this pairing will significantly change the offering of AUSA products.

Total solutions provider

“Our goal is to be a total solutions provider for our customers,” says Scott Daly, General Manager — JLG APAC. “Whether it’s new machinery, service, spare parts, or application-specific solutions, we want our customers to be able to come to us for everything they need.”

The complete construction package

By further diversifying the product range, JLG is now a viable source of equipment for a whole new market segment. JLG can now be an integral part of the whole construction cycle, from groundbreaking to finished build.

A one-stop-shop across the industry

As Daniel Reeve, National Sales Manager, JLG Industries (Australia & New Zealand), says: Our core customers, the Rental companies, operating in the construction and civil engineering space, will benefit from access to yet another great product range, backed by the industry-renowned JLG support network. They’ll enjoy the reassurance and efficiency of just the one supplier, now able to manage more of their favourite premium products needed to satisfy their customers, and get the job done!”

Products as well as values in alignment

Daniel goes on to stress: “The AUSA brand stands for quality, safety and reliability, and has forged a wellearned reputation across the globe, as well as here in Australia. It is a perfect fit for JLG, and we are proud and humbled to acquire such a highly respected brand. It’s also great for our customers, too. Having another trusted brand as part of the JLG offering simplifies their decision making — knowing that the first-class support offered by JLG, from warranty to spare parts and from financial solutions to technical support, are all now integral to the AUSA product range as well.”

Kelm Hire adds Haulotte HA41 RTJ PRO to expanding fleet

KELM HIRE, SERVICING MELBOURNE FROM ITS CHELTENHAM AND WEST MELBOURNE LOCATIONS, HAS RECENTLY EXPANDED ITS FLEET WITH THE ADDITION OF A HAULOTTE HA41 RTJ PRO ARTICULATED BOOM LIFT.

“We love the HA41 RTJ PRO we already had,” said Operations Manager, Terry Atkins. “We’re impressed by how smooth it is and it’s more compact than anything else on the market”.

Kelm Hire have been gearing up to grow in recent years, not just to offer more, or bigger equipment, but also to support their customers in every aspect of their business.

“We are growing, but we want to do it organically, with a very measured approach focusing on people, resources, and backing it all up with service and support,” adds Matt.

As a family-run business, Kelm Hire prides itself on working closely with both customers and suppliers to ensure the best total hire solution is delivered. The team chose Haulotte for their product expertise and ongoing support.

Known for providing high-quality hire equipment, the company continues to invest in reliable, highperformance machinery to support the needs of its growing customer base.

The decision to bring in the HA41 RTJ PRO was driven by demand from one of Kelm Hire’s key clients, who is currently working on a large data centre project. “The customer already had a Haulotte boom on site and requested a similar model for ongoing works,” explains Matt Hoy from Kelm Hire. “The team has already been impressed by the machine’s smooth driveability and advanced functionality.”

“We came and had a look at Haulotte and were impressed not just with the team’s product knowledge, but also with their access to spare parts and service backing,” said Matt.

For Haulotte, partnering with growing hire businesses like Kelm Hire is a natural fit, explains Henry Mutimer, VIC Area Sales Manager of Haulotte Australia.

“With Haulotte’s long-standing history rooted in family values and a commitment to customerfocused solutions, we understand the challenges of growing a business,” said Henry. “The HA41 RTJ PRO is an excellent fit for Kelm Hire’s fleet and will support them in meeting the demands of larger, more complex projects.”

The HA41 RTJ PRO combines smooth, proportional movements with advanced control systems for precise and confident operation at height. With a 41.5 m working height and 20.1 m outreach, it offers the smallest turning radius in its class, providing excellent manoeuvrability on confined worksites. The boom features four simultaneous proportional movements, allowing operators to position the machine quickly without relocation. Built for demanding hire use, it comes with 4WD and 4-wheel steering, as well as the Haulotte Activ’Shield Bar 2.0, which protects operators from potential entrapment.

To find out more, visit haulotte.com.au

L to r: Henry Mutimer (Haulotte), Matt Hoy (Kelm Hire), Terry Atkins (Kelm Hire.

IPAF report a 26% global decrease in powered access fatalities

IPAF’S GLOBAL SAFETY REPORT 2025 REVEALS A NOTABLE DECREASE IN FATALITIES INVOLVING POWERED ACCESS EQUIPMENT, DESPITE ONLY A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN OVERALL REPORTED INCIDENTS. THE FINDINGS ARE BASED ON INCIDENTS SUBMITTED THROUGH ITS GLOBAL ACCIDENT REPORTING PORTAL.

The IPAF Global Safety Report 2025 examines accident data spanning 2015 to 2024, with a focus on the most recent year-on-year trends. By analysing anonymised global data, IPAF aims to equip the industry with actionable insights to reduce accidents and improve safety performance.

This year’s report shows that in 2024, there were 15% fewer fatal and major incidents reported, with 170 incident reports made compared to 201 reports in 2023. There were 100 fatalities reported, down from 135 in 2023 — marking a 26% decrease. A total of 211 people were involved in incidents (12% less than in 2023), and reports came from 26 countries.

In terms of incidents resulting in deaths or major injury, overturns was the top cause of accidents in 2024, followed by entrapment and falls from the platform. Most incidents occurred on construction sites (37%), followed by the arboriculture (13%) and electrical sectors (13%). The top MEWP categories involved were static vertical (34%), followed by mobile vertical (26%) and mobile booms (26%).

Other key statistics from the report include:

• A 75% increase in entrapment reports and 62% increase in entrapment fatalities from 2023 to 2024.

• A 56% reduction in fatalities from overturns.

• A 50% decrease in incident reports of people being hit by a falling object but a 75% increase in fatalities.

“The 26% reduction in fatalities is a positive step forward, but we must remain focused on the bigger picture,” said Brian Parker, Head of Safety & Technical at IPAF. “Every incident report reminds us that there is still work to do. While it’s encouraging to see improvements, especially in overturn-related fatalities, the sharp rise in entrapment fatalities is a clear signal that we must continue driving education, vigilance and adherence to safe working practices across all sectors. This report equips us with the critical insights needed to target our safety efforts where they are most needed.”

Alana Paterson, Chair of the IPAF International Safety Committee and Head of Health, Safety & Environment at Taylor Woodrow, said:

“Powered access continues to be one of the safest and most efficient methods for working at height. However, we still see serious, and at times, tragic incidents around the world. These serve as a stark reminder of why the work of IPAF and its committees is so vital. The data collected through the IPAF Accident Reporting Portal not only informs this report but also guides the focus of our collective efforts, whether that’s developing guidance documents, toolbox talks, technical innovations, hire standards, or more. I encourage everyone working in this sector to report any accidents involving powered access. Accurate reporting helps ensure the data reflects reality and supports better safety for all."

To view the full Global Safety Report 2025, visit www.ipaf.org/accident

Genie FE Technology

Zoomlion signs largest boom in Australia at HIRE25

ZOOMLION ACCESS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE ON-SITE SIGNING FOR THE ZT72J ULTRA-HIGH TELESCOPIC BOOM LIFT AT HIRE25 IN MELBOURNE.

(top) Zoomlion's massive 72.3m superboom, the ZT72J

(above) The signing of the ZT72J demonstrates [Zoomlion's] commitment to this market

With a working height of 72.3m, the ZT72J is now the highest boom lift ever introduced to the Australian market. It represents a major leap forward from Zoomlion previous 58.8m model, ZT58J. It’s a bold step that once again redefines the limits of the Australian access industry.

At the ceremony, Dr. Ren Huili, General Manager of Zoomlion Access, expressed appreciation to all visitors and highlighted the brand’s ongoing development in Australia: "Currently, we have established four sales, service and support centres in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, and Brisbane, laying a solid foundation for localized sales, service, and spare parts supply. Our growing network ensures that our customers receive responsive, professional support across the country."

He further emphasized the importance of this landmark signing: "The signing of ZT72J not only marks a new breakthrough for Zoomlion Access,

but also demonstrates our firm commitment to this market. With safer, simpler, and greener access solutions, we aim to empower our partners and elevate industries together."

Eight new MEWPs from Zoomlion were showcased at HIRE25, one of the most influential events in the construction and equipment hire industry in the region, including ZTH4018 telehandler, electric scissor lift ZS0607ACW-Li, full electric scissor lift ZS0607E, crawler scissor ZS0612C, vertical mast lift ZMP06, electric articulating boom lift ZA10RJE and ZA14NJE, and diesel articulating boom ZA14J. b

Raising the bar: EWPA set to launch its new Yellow Card® Course

THE EWPA’S NEW YELLOW CARD COURSE IS ABOUT TO CHANGE THE GAME IN ELEVATED WORK PLATFORM (EWP) TRAINING.

BY TEMPEL MATTERSON - EWPA TRAINING COORDINATOR'

After a full-scale overhaul — featuring review by subject matter experts, national industry consultation, pilot programs, and a thorough impact and audit evaluation — the new course is designed to meet the evolving needs of the current worksite. Aligned with the latest EWP Standard AS2250.10.2025 and mapped directly to RIIHAN301E, this program is step forward in the Associations commitment to workplace safety

The revamped Yellow Card Course champions safety, competency, and compliance. It reflects the real-world shifts in industry practices and sets the new standard for EWP training.

Behind every EWPA Yellow Card operator is a high-quality trainer who has undergone a rigorous onboarding process to ensure they meet EWPA’s standard of instruction and is required to complete annual CPD to ensure they are maintaining their current skills. All trainers are currently being transitioned to the new course with Train the Trainer webinars being conducted in August and all Trainers will be delivering the new course by 1 September 2025.

The new Yellow Card isn’t just a course. It’s a commitment to a safer, smarter workforce. b

EWPA Membership

EWPA Yellow Card Program

EWPA Accredited Trainers

EWPA Stationery

EWPA Safety Resources

The EWPA provides a united voice for the industry, promoting the industry as the safest choice for carrying out work at height.

Visit www.ewpa.com.au to find out more or join today

Access Service achieve business trifecta

ACCESS SERVICE AUSTRALIA CONTINUES TO GROW, HAVING REACHED THE STRATEGIC TRIFECTA OF FIRST-CLASS BRANDS, PRODUCT SUPPORT AND SERVICE BACKUP.

Elevating work platforms

“ASA’s journey with LiuGong’s MEWP offering has been both rapid and revealing”, said John. “For those who have worked with Chinese manufacturers, there is pride that permeates every conversation. The drive to grow, to refine, and to be the best is evident” he added. LiuGong factories — heavily automated and designed for repeatable precision — are focused on consistency and excellence.

ASA’s growing LiuGong range includes standout models such as:

• 34ft Diesel Boom Lift: Featuring a zero-turn design, oscillating axle, and increased reach and lift capacity.

At the core of ASA’s business principals is a simple but powerful promise: “supply quality equipment, deliver dependable service, and maintain consistent communication with our customers” said GM of Operations, John Oliver. “Whether it's a new machine, a routine service, or a complex repair, we aim to provide cost-effective solutions without compromising on performance or reliability.”

Site vans

As part of their goal to create a unique blend of products, ASA’s Site Van product has seen overwhelming interest. Understanding the nature of demand has resulted in steady and increasing order. Each unit is subject to design tailoring, improving the fit and function for its bespoke requirement. These customizable vans are built efficiently using high-grade materials and components.

• Tracked Scissor Lift: Rugged yet refined, with non-marking tracks and accessible AGM batteries.

• 11m Mast Lift: Innovative folding pothole guards increase ground clearance, improving maneuverability.

• LiFePO4 Boom Lifts: Fast-charging, longlasting electric booms that redefine EWP sustainability.

• High-Performance Scissor Lifts: Equipped with AC motors, maintenance-free batteries, and impressive ground clearance and torque for demanding applications.

Light towers

Lighting solutions are evolving rapidly, led by the introduction of the ‘up-and-over’ streetlight-style tower — a portable solar light designed to emulate roadside lighting. With rising interest in sustainable, off-grid solutions, this innovation is expected to become a go-to option for worksites across Australia.

Telescopic handlers

Known for its blend of comfort, reliability, and advanced engineering, Merlo remains the operator’s choice, and a product ASA are proud to support and represent. With national backing and a reputation for longevity, Merlo machines practically sell themselves.

Looking ahead

Demand for quality machinery is set to surge as Australia faces a critical housing shortage and investment in infrastructure, healthcare, data, and urban development sectors continues.

Access Service Australia is positioned to meet that demand — not just with equipment, but with a service-first approach; understanding that maintenance is vital to preserving the performance and value of any machine.

ASA's Cris Boss site van product

EWPA Membership

EWPA Yellow Card Program

EWPA Accredited Trainers

EWPA Stationery

EWPA Safety Resources

The EWPA provides a united voice for the industry, promoting the industry as the safest choice for carrying out work at height.

Michele Marks, General ManagerExpo Event Services, collects the award for Hire Company of the Year in the Events category.

FEATURES

48 Events President's Message 50 HIRE25 in pictures

49 HRIA sets stage to bring the best out of personal connections

BRETT O'HARA INTERIM HRIA EVENTS DIVISON PRESIDENT

Looking ahead to events season

A BIG THANKYOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THE TRIP TO MELBOURNE IN JUNE FOR HIRE25.

Congratulations to all the 2025 HRIA Excellence Award winners and a special shout out to everyone behind the scenes who made it all happen over three incredible days.

While I was on a long-planned overseas trip at the time, I was delighted to hear that Expo Event Services picked up our industry’s biggest award, Hire Company of the Year — Events, in recognition of the team going above and beyond across every metric that matters: customer service, safety and performance. Congratulations to Michele Marks and all the team on an outstanding win.

With winter almost over, I know we’re all starting to look ahead and plan for the upcoming 2025/26 event season. That inevitably means we’ll be once again facing the annual conundrum around staffing levels, that is, what’s the right balance of full time, casual or agency labour that will ensure we deliver on and exceed our customers’ expectations.

Dealing with the peaks and troughs of the event cycle is an ongoing issue for everyone across our industry. Regardless of whether we have five, 50 or 500 employees, we all face the same challenges, especially post-Covid.

One of the most difficult of those challenges has been around attracting young people to our industry. With unemployment numbers remaining low and employment projected to grow across Australia, it continues to be an area

of concern for hire and event companies. In regional Australia, it’s even more of a challenge, especially in states where members are competing against large government projects for skilled employees, such as truck drivers and machine operators, and creating worker shortages. Unfortunately, the reality is that these labour challenges, along with the ever-increasing costs of running a business, will eventually have to be passed on to the consumer.

Of course, there is no silver bullet for these issues — they’re ongoing and impact us all. But we are an industry that thrives on solving problems and we will continue to find creative and innovative ways to stand out in the job market. Working in events is a pretty unique opportunity. It’s a dynamic, ever-changing workplace offering a huge variety of career opportunities for people of all ages, skill levels and experience — and it’s up to us to ensure everyone knows it.

With winter almost over, I know we’re all starting to look ahead and plan for the upcoming 2025/26 event season. That inevitably means we’ll be once again facing the annual conundrum around staffing levels, that is, what’s the right balance of full time, casual or agency labour that will ensure we deliver on and exceed our customers’ expectations. T

With winter almost over, I know we’re all starting to look ahead and plan for the upcoming 2025/26 event season. That inevitably means we’ll be once again facing the annual conundrum around staffing levels, that is, what’s the right balance of full time, casual or agency labour that will ensure we deliver on and exceed our customers’ expectations.

HRIA sets the stage to bring the best out of personal connections

KENNARDS HIRE

AND KENECO PROPERTY HAVE UNVEILED A

STUNNING NEW PUBLIC ART INSTALLATION IN TOOWOOMBA BY LOCAL INDIGENOUS ARTIST KIM WALMSLEY

(MUNUNJALI).

Determined not to just be another exhibition, the HRIA has set out to prove how important the annual convention is to the health of industry at large.

Circularity has always been a key theme for the HRIA. The concept of reduce, reuse and recycle is at the heart of what HRIA members offer. And this was demonstrated in abundance at HIRE25 in Melbourne. Quality equipment, representing brands that are built to last, in industries that test endurance are what HRIA members demand. The strength and reliability of HRIA suppliers is vital in upholding the principles of the circular economy.

These values were on show with the years winner of the Hire Industry Excellence Awards’ Best New Product, which this year was taken out by Globe Power for their Survivor Series Wellness Trailer.

Securing its place as a standout solution in the renewable and safety space for the hire industry, the submission is testament to the outstanding work of Globe Power’s Engineering and Design Manager, Ciaran Maughan, and the Renewable Design team whose tireless efforts continue to shape the future of renewable-powered safety solutions.

The Survivor Series is designed to function as a fully customisable mobile unit that delivers renewable energy and essential on-site support, offering a complete remote solution for worksites and disaster recovery scenarios.

The power of connection

Throughout the convention the power of connection was evident at the many networking functions. For the first time, this year the HRIA designed a function aimed specifically at new and small business members of the Association.

“With such a large and dispersed membership, there’s a lot of ground to cover”, said HRIA CEO, James Oxenham. “We lean upon our existing network and state committee members to keep new members and those in remote and regional areas engaged as well as we can. But this has always been a challenge,” said James. “Companies, who are new to the sector can quickly find value in forming new relationships and the networking event we held at HIRE25 was a great success. Thank you to Board and Committee members for stepping up and welcoming these new companies, in the true spirit of the HRIA.”

Recognising development

The HRIA board and members across the association have come to realise the value of the Development Programs, not just to the mentors and mentees on the programs, but to the HRIA as a whole. “We get an overwhelming sense for how the programs have improved the engagement of members across the spectrum”, said James. We owe a debt of gratitude to Aileen Hiskins at Strategic Alignment Training for how the programs have enabled us to engage with members in meaningful way, to the advantage of the industry.” T

HIRE25HIGHLIGHTS

Pg50 (l-r) Former HRIA Vic State President, Jarrod Kerr discusses day 1 with Taela Eggers (Williams Adams CAT) and Louisa Ciavarella (Green Power Solutions)  Aileen Hiskins (Strategic Alignment Training) and Sally Cannon from the HRIA share the spotlight with Women in Hire Growth Award Winners: Lisa Silcock (AU Buckets), Shannen Wardrop (Conplant), Nicole Rowley (JLG Industries), Corina Roat (Kennards Hire), Kate Dwyer (Genie)  EWPA President, John Glover awards Best New Product to Tim Helfers, MD of Globe Power  RPM Hire celebrate their Hire Company of the Year win  Antonella Arana, from United Rentals, speaks at the Women in Hire Breakfast.  Flextool take home Supplier of Year  the ex-Disney Guy, John Formica, delivers his keynote on Day 1  over 100 exhibitors on display  a sold-out ballroom at Hire Industry Excellence Awards  Ashten Adonis (Aggreko), Aileen Hiskins and Sarah Farfalla from Strategic Alignment Training  Welcome Drinks is one of the many popular HIRE25 functions.

Pg51 (l-r) CEA’s Kerry McCauley discusses the FABs of a Dynapac CC1200  the future is in good hands with Strategic Alignment Training’s Sarah Farfalla & son, Christian  Camden Hire’s Skye Bagatella wins the Growth Award for this year's Young Professionals Program  the HRIA team  HRIA State Presidents meet the ex-Disney Guy  Darlene Le shows off Merlo’s cab ergonomics.  HRIA QLD State President, Troy Moulder catches up with HRIA’s Nic Chiew  Gala dinner dance floor  EWPs were out in force  Chair of the American Rental Association, Jeff Crotto and his wife Sarah  David Krusza & Chris Paradowski from Hiretech, Sumu Akmeemana, Kennards Hire, and Joe Cerullo from Scaffold Solutions at Welcome Drinks  HIRE25 hosts many of the world’s leading equipment brands.

HRIA’s 2nd Annual Leadership Conference

In 2024, the HRIA launched a new concept that had been on the strategic drawing board for a while, the HRIA Business Leadership Conference. At the heart of this concept was providing an event for established and emerging leaders of the hire industry to add to their leadership toolbox.

• Real world takeaways that can be taken back to the business immediately.

• Opportunities to build connections through networking and social activities.

• A turnkey, all-inclusive event with accommodation, workshops, networking and social activities all taken care of.

“We have a clear vision of ‘ingredients’ that make up this conference” noted HRIA National Training Consultant, Nicolas Chiew. “Our challenge is to make sure the value of the whole experience is compelling for hire leaders to take time out of their schedules to attend.”

The inaugural event received an overwhelming amount of positive feedback.

This gave the HRIA National Office a strong mandate to continue expanding the format into the future.

For the 2025 conference, the theme of High-Performance Leadership continues, with content plans focusing on:

• Incorporating a wellness element to build healthy leaders.

• Meaningful topics delivered by high quality presenters.

• Impactful and concise presentations tailored specifically for the hire industry.

With HRIA Marketing Manager Sally Cannon joining the planning team, building out the value of the conference is a challenge that the team is relishing. “Through our existing programs, we see that hire industry leaders are great at supporting the growth of their teams” remarked Sally. “We really wanted to build an opportunity for leaders to invest in themselves. This is something James, Nic and I are passionate about and we’re looking forward to delivering an amazing conference.”

For information and registration, visit https://hria.com.au/events/business-leadershipconference/

AND 17TH

• Hear from leading speakers

• Elevate your network through meaningful connections.

• Participate in interactive sessions designed to sharpen your skills.

• Immerse yourself in high quality content with practical takeaways

16TH

SEPTEMBER, 2025 | RACV Royal Pines – Gold Coast

Richard Fox-Smith Kennards

Mitchell Woods High Performance Coach

Lauren Nobbs Microsoft Copiliot

Nick Foley Intangify Pia Lee Squadify

Federica Garguili Talent Supply

THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB EAST WEST’S HYDRAULIC ATTACHMENT TIPS

IN MATERIALS HANDLING, EFFICIENCY, SAFETY AND PRODUCTIVITY HINGE ON HAVING THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE TASK. HYDRAULIC FORKLIFT ATTACHMENTS ARE AMONG THE MOST POWERFUL WAYS TO OPTIMISE DAY-TODAY OPERATIONS, ALLOWING OPERATORS TO LIFT, TIP, ROTATE, CLAMP OR SHIFT LOADS WITH PRECISION AND EASE.

“But material handling isn’t one-size-fits-all,” said Craig Gilmour, General Manager at East West Engineering. “Choosing the right attachment starts with understanding your specific load types, workflows, and performance goals.” Just as important is having a reliable partner who can provide expert advice, prompt delivery, and ongoing support. That’s where East West Engineering comes in.

What sets East West Engineering apart isn’t just the 40 years experience and extensive materials handling product range, it’s a commitment to partnership.

“Whether it’s from our extensive stocked range or a fully custom-built unit, every product is engineered to Australian standard, with safety, reliability and performance at its core.” said Craig.

“We started with solving individual challenges in the field and from there, we began building a stocked range to support our customers' needs more quickly and effectively.”

Today, East West Engineering offers a comprehensive range of hydraulic attachments, many of which are held in stock for fast turnaround and reliable delivery. This includes rotators, fork positioners, sideshifts, clamps, multi-pallet handlers and tippers, all engineered for safe, efficient handling with minimal manual input.

“Our goal is to make it easier for you to supply the right solution, quickly, at the right price, with a trusted partner behind you.”

East West Engineering supports diverse industries. Partnering with HRIA and TSHA members is idea to align East West across so many industrial sectors.

For example, East West’s CYQ Sideshift attachment is well-suited to warehouse logistics so operators can precisely align forks without manual repositioning, saving time and reducing physical strain.

In Construction, forklifts are used to handle a wide range of tasks on site. To maximise the versatility of their existing fleet, fitment of East West Engineering’s XZQ 360° Rotator has allowed operators to safely tip bins, rotate and position loads with greater control and efficiency, improving site logistics without the need for multiple specialised machines.

East West Engineering has the in-house capability to custom engineer entirely new products or modify existing ones to suit a range of applications.

“Every new design or refinement comes from solving real operational challenges, not assumptions. That’s why our range continues to grow with the evolving needs of our customers.”

If you’re looking to improve safety, reduce handling time or find a smarter way to move materials, contact the team at East West Engineering for expert support that extends well beyond the sale.

To find out more, visit: eastwesteng.com.au

EWPA Membership

EWPA Yellow Card Program

EWPA Accredited Trainers

EWPA Stationery

EWPA Safety Resources

The EWPA provides a united voice for the industry, promoting the industry as the safest choice for carrying out work at height.

DIECI’S SMART APOLLO 20.4 COMPACT IN SIZE, BIG ON PERFORMANCE

DESIGNED TO HANDLE HEAVY LOADS IN TIGHT SPACES, DIECI’S NEW APOLLO 20.4 SMART TELEHANDLER IS PROVIDING BOTH STRENGTH AND SAVINGS TOGETHER IN ONE POWERFUL MACHINE.

Contractors are often faced with the challenges of having to work in confined spaces, leading to a demand for equipment with special functions that are more compact, efficient, highly manoeuvrable and safe to use.

Dieci’s 20.4 Smart telehandler is a brand-new model that is typical of the latest generation equipment that has been designed in response to this need.

Speaking to Hire & Rental Magazine, Dieci National Sales Manager Bob Mules said the Apollo 20.4 — referred to as "smart" due to its advanced features — addresses a market need for equipment that is more compact, agile, faster and more efficient.

“This telehandler has been designed specifically to deliver high-performance and effortless manoeuvrability in tight spaces, without compromising on power or precision,” he said.

“Rapid sales immediately following its launch indicated a clear need for this type of machine.”

The telehandler is powered by a 37kW Kubota engine, generating speeds up to 25 kilometres per hour.

“The advanced engine and transmission deliver an unbeatable combination of power and efficiency,” Bob said.

Three steering modes —2-wheel, 4-wheel and crab steer — make for smooth navigation and responsiveness even when carrying full loads.

Bob said that despite the telehandler’s compact dimensions, it provides several comfort features designed to enhance the operator's experience.

The cab is roomy and ergonomically optimised, ensuring operator comfort even during extended periods of use. There is an updated dashboard layout for improved accessibility and ease of use, contributing to more intuitive and efficient operation.

The controls, including a proportional joystick, are designed for ease of operation, reducing fatigue and allowing precise handling. Large windows in the cab provide all-round visibility, enhancing safety and convenience.

“Our engineers have also added patented features that simplify maintenance access. The Apollo 20.4 Smart brought both strength and savings together in one powerful machine” Bob said.

“Weighing in at 4300 kilograms unladen, the telehandler has a robust boom that can handle heavy loads up to 2000 kilograms to an impressive height of 4.35 metres, with horizontal reach of 2.57 metres,” he said.

“The fork has a swivel angle of 133 degrees and the machine can climb angles of up to 56 per cent.”

The Apollo 20.4 Smart isn’t combines the lift capacity of a hydraulic forklift with the reach and elevation of a crane.

With a wide range of attachments ranging from buckets and jibs to forks and aerial work platforms, operators can take on multiple tasks with a single machine.

“The telehandler is ideal for moving materials, lifting heavy loads to elevated positions, handling scaffolding, and assisting in structural work,” Bob said.

“Its compact dimensions make it perfect for loading and unloading trucks, stacking pallets, and transporting goods within storage areas.

“The telehandlers are useful in moving heavy fabricated assemblies on construction projects and for the loading or unloading of machines on the job; their lifting capacity can streamline work and reduces risks associated with manual handling.

“The Apollo 20.4 Smart really shines in landscaping, where its efficiency and speed makes it ideal for moving in confined spaces, while handling and transporting soil, mulch, large plants, and landscaping materials.”

Compared to forklifts, the 20.4 can reach higher and further due to the telescopic boom, and it has greater visibility due to its lateral positioning.

On landscaping projects, it can easily lift and transport logs, clear debris and has power to manage heavy loads and handle bulk materials, transport tools and equipment in difficult environments.

In recycling and waste management, the machine is ideally suited to moving heavy bins, sorting materials, and handling waste materials for processing.

Dieci’s after-sales service plays a crucial role in the overall cost of ownership.

“We aim to ensure that the customer gets the best possible experience we can provide,” Bob said.

“It’s about making sure sales, parts and service functions are integrated to deliver a great seamless experience, whether they are buying one or 20 machines.

“Dieci has a commitment to customisation to suit market needs and has a proven record in specialised products that are supported by a strong national parts and service network.”

THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT HAS AN ADDRESS

15 & 16 OCTOBER 2025 | ICC, SYDNEY 3,000

ire and ental ndustry ssociation

WHY HIRE FROM A HRIA MEMBER

• HRIA Members will recommend the right equipment for your job

• HRIA Members can provide instruction on use of the equipment

• All equipment hired by HRIA members is thoroughly checked and maintained prior to each hire and electrically tested and tagged where needed

By choosing to hire from a HRIA member you are ensuring the best possible hire experience. WITH OVER 500

• HRIA members follow all Workplace Health and Safety requirements and have access to the latest safety legislation – ensuring the highest standard of safety for employees and hirers of equipment

• Hiring from an HRIA member ensures equipment reliability and efficiency

• HRIA members are committing to a code of ethics