At the end of last year, Queensland Rigging Hire joined Axel Johnson’s International Lifting Solutions Group (LSG). For Branch Manager, Trey Yee and his team, the acquisition provides exciting opportunities.
Trey has been with Queensland Rigging Hire (QRH) since October 2019 and was in fact the company’s first employee. QRH runs a tight ship with six staff members, and although small, the team punches well above its weight said Trey.
“We are a small but tight team. We have plenty to offer and our customers know we are prepared to go above and beyond providing a service that we like to think is second to none in terms of responsiveness to their requirements.
“With an age spread of 18 to 57 we have one of the youngest teams in Lifting Solutions Group (LSG) and we view the team as family. We enjoy each other’s company at work and outside of work. This culture helps keep everyone motivated and supportive of each other, especially when things get stressful when meeting tight deadlines. We all support each other to make sure the jobs get done and we don’t let anyone down. Whether its office or warehouse staff or our delivery team, everyone is trained with the mindset that we are here to provide our customers with the best possible experience,” said Trey.
Following the purchase of QRH Trey has been impressed with the approach from the International Lifting Solutions Group.
“The approach from the LSG team has been very proactive providing future plans for all branches and is focused on growth within the group and also the country. Being part LSG brings unlimited options for both QRH and our customers. We now have access to multiple global resource avenues which will enable us to grow our fleet of equipment and also provide our customers with additional services.
“LSG understands the lifting industry does not stand still and new technologies are emerging all the time which are changing the way lifts are being planned and implemented. Crane capacities are increasing and projects are becoming increasingly complex. Being part of a global group definitely helps us stay abreast of all of these developments which ensures we are investing in the right lifting technology which is then available to our customers.”
Being part of LSG provides Trey and his team opportunities to work on national projects with other members of the group.
“The collaboration with other LSG members has already proven its worth. We are able to communicate with the branches around the country and also overseas, share knowledge and experiences which will ultimately help us provide better support to our clients and the projects they are working on. The collective knowledge available in the group is second to none and all members of LSG can access this online and by learning from each other through frequent meetings,” said Trey.
Investment in lifting innovation
QRH and The Lifting Solutions Group are consistently examining the next steps for the lifting industry, assessing what types of equipment will be required for future projects as well as investing in new procedures and also staff, to help the business keep pace with developments. The latest investment for QRH includes two 280 tonne 132 millimetre x 16 metre Endless Grommet Slings sourced from an Australian supplier for a future project.
QRH is well positioned in terms of its fleet of equipment said Trey.
“As a result of our continued investment in the latest lifting technology, QRH has one of the largest fleets of lifting equipment in Australia, and with the comprehensive nature of the fleet we are now supporting other LSG rental branches with equipment to help deliver some of the largest projects across the country,” he said.
Australian made product provide significant advantages.
“Purchasing Australian made products is a huge positive to the industry, supporting small businesses and suppliers as well as larger Australian groups helps build the economy. When buying Australian made product, we are confident that the relevant testing has been conducted to the exacting Australian Standards and the manufacturers we work with are happy to design and engineer bespoke products for the complex projects we find ourselves working on,” said Trey.
Maintaining the fleet
QRH operates 6000 items from Queensland and combined, the LSG rental businesses has approximately 10,000-plus items. All equipment undergoes a pre-hire inspection and test by trained staff. All equipment must be inspected according to the Australian Standards before leaving the facility. Once the equipment is returned, all items undergo an extensive off-hire inspection and test.
“If there are any concerns regarding returned equipment we reach out to our local Stenhouse or Certex branch for assistance,” said Trey.
QRH facility
The QRH facility in Brisbane is a relatively recent investment and it continues to service the business well with the potential to accommodate future growth. Trey is excited about the future of QRH and LSG.
“We are very excited about the prospects for QRH and LSG. The industry can expect to see consistent improvement in the services we provide and availability of the broad range of lifting equipment we will be supplying,” he said.
“We expect to experience future growth in the business which will mean more staff and more equipment. Queensland is set for a significant period of growth with the Olympics beginning to come online, as well as the boom in residential construction and the release of significant infrastructure projects.
“Both QRH and our partners within LSG are ready for what is going to be a very busy few years, I say bring it on!”
