As the saying goes ‘from humble beginnings come great things’ and this is certainly the case for Josh John from Complete Crane Solutions (CCS). On meeting Josh, you are immediately struck by how understated and humble he is about the success of his business, and he is more focused on ensuring his team is enjoying what they are doing.
Josh got his start as an apprentice in the crane industry with MCT Equipment, formerly CTE, and Anthony Grosser. He then moved on to work for Sarens Australia as a mechanic, SPMT operator and jack and skid technician gaining experience and exposure across Australia on infrastructure projects, the resources sector including oil and gas and mining.
This experience with Sarens led to international opportunities including a stint in Africa where he was servicing a fleet of Demag’s and then Covid-19 hit and he returned to Australia where he landed with Tadano in Perth.
Opportunity
During Covid, Josh saw a gap in the market servicing cranes operating throughout the Pilbara Region and decided there was a good business opportunity.
“During my time working across various industries and with a number of clients, I kept hearing how much of a struggle it was for them to find a company which provided a quick turn-around service for breakdowns. That’s when I realised there was a significant gap in the market and launched Complete Crane Solutions,” said Josh.
Growth
Over the past five years CCS has experienced significant growth, and Josh provides some insights as to why.
“One of the main reasons for the growth comes down to our personal approach to the business and the relationships we have developed with our customers. Customer relationships have developed at every level of the business. Our management is of course, constantly talking to customers, but the big difference is our technicians in our various facilities and also out in the field, are very personable and they have developed relationships.
“New customers are giving us a chance and existing customers have come to rely on our services because they can see we are reliable, that our team, at every level, is dedicated and committed to the right outcomes for our customers, and the word NO doesn’t exist at CCS. It also helps that none of the team have a life outside of cranes,” joked Josh.
Servicing capabilities
A large number of crane hire companies rely heavily on the crane servicing capabilities of CCS choosing them above crane original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
“We are fortunate to enjoy high levels of repeat business from our customers, many of which operate large fleets,” Josh said. “There are a number of reasons for this. I think it starts with basics, which include the availability of our staff and our flexible approach to service and maintenance. We work around the customer, we understand they are busy operating cranes and that it is not always convenient to bring a crane to our facilities, so we send our technicians to them.
“Many of our technicians are OEM factory trained and understand the leading crane brands. We have apprentices in the business, and they are learning from our experienced team members, so we are constantly adding to our body of knowledge.
“Another key factor is that we have facilities in regions where the OEM’s do not operate, and when we don’t, we send our technicians to the customers no matter where they are located.”
“From the beginning, it has been a core strategy and focus to have mobile technicians arrive on a site or into a client’s yard with all the tools, supplies and parts needed to service the crane. This approach allows us to service more customers in a particular region, and it is not uncommon for our technicians to drive 600 kilometres plus to get a job done,” he said.
The next five years
Josh and his team are excited at the prospect for CCS over the next five years.
“We see the next five years as being very dynamic for the business and we intend to make our presence in the market bigger, better and stronger and we’ll ensure our facilities and mobile service vehicles and technicians are better equipped. We are also planning dedicated in-house training for the upcoming apprentices and mechanics.
“As the market changes and customer requirements alter, we will ensure we remain contemporary with our services. We plan to introduce A grade electricians to the team who will be ready for the predicted increase in hybrid and electric cranes joining the fleets across Australia,” said Josh.
“We will be focused on project-based work and partnering with trailer manufacturers including Cometto, Faymonville, and TRT with our Tonnage product range. We will be developing partnerships with overhead cranes suppliers across Australia, opening new facilities and we will continue to develop our overseas capabilities, particularly in the Middle East. For many of these projects and opportunities, it will be a case of ‘watch this space,” he said.
For this growth to continue CCS is going to need to attract and then retain the right calibre of team member. Josh explains how.
“The culture we are developing at CCS has been a drawcard for our team. We work closely together and many team members are mates outside of work. Our workplaces are important, and our facilities are fitted out with the latest technology to ensure the servicing and maintenance of equipment is managed efficiently and productively,” he said.
“From a career perspective, there is plenty of opportunity at CCS. Our structure is designed to help ‘grow’ individuals and we encourage everyone to take opportunities as they are presented. Our continued investment in a modern fleet of service will remain a key strategy as will investment in diagnostic and testing equipment.”