The Lifting Company has been engineering some of Australia’s most complex lifting solutions. From supporting large-scale construction projects to solving niche engineering puzzles for museums and zoos, the company has been providing lifting, rigging and height safety products and solutions since 2001.
In an environment where industries are dominated by large groups and corporations, The Lifting Company (TLC) remains privately owned and locally operated. The owners of TLC are extremely hands on involving themselves with everything from engineering to deliveries where required, acting very much as part of the team. This earns them respect among both customers and employees of TLC and strengthens their positions as mentors and role models to the staff who rely on them.
“We specialise in the unique and unusual projects requiring a specifically designed solution,” said Matt Clarke, Director at The Lifting Company.
“If someone approaches TLC with a challenge that has not been undertaken before, we collaborate with the customer and their project partners to engineer a solution.”
Located in the heart of Perth’s industrial zone, TLC operates from a fully stocked showroom in Kewdale and maintains an in-house fabrication facility. The company offers a full range of lifting and rigging equipment, forklift attachments, and height safety gear, but it’s the custom work that sets it apart.
“We do everything from basic rigging gear like synthetic slings and shackles to beams, lifting cages, personnel cages, custom fabricated lifting frames, our bespoke engineered solutions and conveyor belting maintenance products,” Matt said.
“A lot of our clients come in with specific needs – they might be lifting awkward shapes, working in tight spaces, or dealing with unusual site restrictions. That’s when the TLC team gets to work.”
TLC’s sales team brings decades of experience. “Our sales manager has been in the game for over 30 years. Our technical guys have probably seen every lifting challenge you could imagine,” Matt noted.
In the engineering team, wisdom runs deep. “We had a 79-year-old part-timer who trained the entire team,” Matt said. “He is a legend in WA’s lifting industry. Our current engineering manager, James, was mentored by him and now leads our growing engineering team.”
With a five-person engineering team supported by seasoned fabricators, TLC can turn rough sketches into fully engineered solutions.
“We design, fabricate, test and certify everything in-house,” said Matt. “And obviously it’s all done strictly to relevant standards.”
Even in the workshop, experience counts. “Our testing supervisor and his brother, our warehouse manager, have both been in the industry for over 40 years. They’re mentoring the younger crew to keep quality and standards at the highest level and nurture new experience in this growing industry. With a focus on safety and training the younger team members have an invaluable opportunity to benefit from this wealth of knowledge and experience.”
Safety is a non-negotiable at The Lifting Company. It has robust internal quality assurance systems and procedures in place. As a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) certified laboratory, as well as being accredited by DNV and the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEAA), the internal procedures run in strict compliance with these accreditations.
At a time when many suppliers are scaling back physical presence, TLC continues to invest in its showroom.
“A lot of companies have shut down their counter sales, but we still believe in face-to-face service,” Matt said. “Walk-ins are welcome. We’ve got two full-time staff at the counter helping everyone from farmers to construction crews.”
The showroom is stocked with products from leading brands including Linq Height Safety, Austlift, Kito Crosby, Pacific Hoists, Spanset, Rud Chains, Legend Lifting, East West Engineering and many more. “We also carry our own line of products including chain blocks, lever blocks and lifting magnets.”
Commitment to people is a strong focus for TLC. “Whether it’s a major customer or someone looking at towing a caravan, we treat every customer with the same level of care,” Matt said. “We’re not just selling equipment. We’re helping people lift smarter, safer, and with confidence.”
One standout project was at the Crown Towers Hotel in Burswood, where TLC installed nearly 100 chandeliers, including four enormous pieces in the main lobby. “There was no precedent,” said Matt. “We had to design and install the mounting systems in the ceiling space with minimal headroom. Some of those chandeliers weighed two tonne.”
The WA Museum also turned to The Lifting Company for help moving a life-sized dinosaur exhibit into place. “We had to figure out how to lift and install it safely inside the building. It wasn’t your standard rigging job, but that’s what makes it interesting,” Matt said.
With a focus on improving safety across the lifting industry everywhere, Matt and the engineering team have designed an innovative, new generation spreader beam. The beam comes with revolutionary end lugs specifically engineered to eliminate bending stress from incorrect sling angles, thereby enhancing safety, reducing operator error, and maximising operational efficiency. A variety of different lengths and capacities of these beams are in stock ready for the next lift.
Another interesting innovation that the TLC team has been working on is a range of hydraulically operated counterweight lifting beams. Used in situations where the load must be moved into areas of limited headroom or confined spaces, the beam remains in the horizontal position while the load is shifted into place. TLC has made up to 15-tonne single beams and 25-tonne for a pair of beams used in a dual lift.
The diversity continues into the area of conveyor belting maintenance equipment where TLC has established itself as world leaders with continual growth and innovation. Offering winches, winders, belt pullers and belt stands and ancillary tooling up to 100 tonne, the TLC range is supplied right across Australia and in overseas markets.