Lifting Gear Hire (LGH) recently launched its Australian lifting and rigging equipment business. As it does throughout the UK, Europe and the USA, LGH supports customers with the hire of quality products backed with a highly responsive approach to service and support. Hadley Price, a representative of LGH Australia, discusses their approach in more detail.
LGH was founded by Bill Parkinson in Manchester, England in 1970 and remains family-owned and managed today. The company expanded significantly in the 1970s and ’80s, entering the North American market in 1990 under President Pat Fiscelli. The US is now LGH’s largest market, managed by Tony Fiscelli, the second generation.
Hadley Price noted, “We have a global presence with over 30 locations, including recent growth in Canada and Europe with facilities in Germany, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Our new facility in Somersby, located an hour north of Sydney, marks LGH’s largest expansion in recent years.”
Now, the business brings its proven model to Australia – combining international experience with local expertise to support critical industries across the country. LGH Australia’s initial operations are based in Somersby, on the New South Wales Central Coast – a strategic location that allows the team to efficiently service Greater Sydney, Newcastle and the broader East Coast region. The facility includes a fully equipped warehouse, workshop and office space, supporting LGH’s high standards for equipment maintenance, quality assurance and customer service.
“Somersby gives us a strong foundation – we’ve got the space, the access, and the ability to grow as demand increases,” said Hadley, “and most importantly, it allows us to deliver the fast, reliable turnaround times our customers expect.”
Quality Equipment, ready to go
A multi-million-dollar investment in equipment supported the need to have comprehensive inventory readily available from day one.
“It was essential that the equipment we invested met the requirements of the market. As a Group, we regularly invest in our wide and varied fleet of hoisting, pulling, jacking, rigging, material handling and safety equipment to meet virtually every lifting or moving need from 500 kilograms to 1000 tonne. Whether it’s above or under the load, or moving it horizontally, we have a real mix of specialised kit for small to large projects,” said Hadley.
“We rely on a well-established supply chain of premium and ‘flagship’ brands that has been forged over years. We are renowned for stocking quality products that are selected for their durability and reliability. It is essential that we also support the local economy, so where possible, we source through local distributors and manufacturers.
“Our investment in our own test stand aligns with the LGH footprint around the world. This is a key differentiator, as it allows us to rigorously test, inspect, and certify our equipment in-house. This process ensures that all stock is ready for immediate and safe use,” he said.
LGH is committed to providing quick and responsive customer service, ensuring customers receive fully compliant equipment tailored to their needs, delivered to the right place and at the right time avoiding costly delays on a project.
“We understand that if equipment does not arrive as expected, it can lead to costly downtime. As a customer-focused organisation, we acknowledge that such situations are simply unacceptable. The Group decided to open LGH in Australia following a focus on growth and expansion. As the largest single organisation devoted exclusively to the provision of lifting and moving equipment, we found Australia aligns well with our existing markets, including construction, infrastructure, mining, energy, petrochemical, marine, and offshore industries,” said Hadley.
“Additionally, our strong commitment to safety ensures we thrive in environments with strict regulations, making Australia a logical next choice for us. With the country seeing increased investment in infrastructure, manufacturing, construction, and defence, we are excited to support the growth of these crucial sectors doing what we do best,” he said.
THE TEAM
“LGH is expanding its team, which now consists of 10 members. Each bring a wealth of experience from within the industry.
“At LGH, our success is largely due to our commitment to lifting engineering and progression across everything we do. That’s why we place a strong emphasis on training, so all employees will undergo comprehensive training both in-house and through seminars with our key suppliers.
“This training covers everything from ensuring equipment is safe and ready to use, seeking to meet customer’s needs, efficient quote processing, logistics, and more. We also benefit from the shared knowledge of the broader global LGH team and were excited to welcome team members from the USA in late July. We’re creating a team culture that’s focused on responsiveness, safety and solutions,” said Hadley.
That mindset was tested early – even before the doors officially opened. LGH Australia was approached by Tier 1 construction company John Holland, which urgently needed lifting gear for a critical lift on the Waterloo Integrated Station Development in Sydney.
“It was a tight window and a high-profile project. They needed our MOD 24 spreader beams delivered and ready to go the next day, and we made it happen. That kind of speed and reliability is exactly what we’re here to offer,” said Hadley.
With deep experience across construction, infrastructure and energy, the Australian team is delivering the same trusted service LGH is known for globally – tailored to local site conditions, compliance requirements and real-world project demands.
LOOKING AHEAD
In a high-risk, high-pressure industry like lifting and rigging, downtime is expensive – and reliability is everything. With international backing, local experience, and a service-first mindset, LGH Australia is well positioned to deliver what the market needs, when and where it’s needed most.