In crane hire, every decision comes down to cost, reliability, and efficiency. From fleet investments to the smallest rigging accessory, margins depend on making choices that last. Increasingly, those choices are moving away from timber and steel and toward engineered plastics – not only as a better product choice, but also as a financial necessity.
Dotmar Engineering Plastics has over 50 years of experience in the plastics industry. They’re showing crane operators how using engineered plastics for outrigger pads, wear parts, and sheaves can be a better economical decision and improve efficiency. What used to be considered an alternative is now becoming a standard choice in the crane and lifting industry.
One of the biggest cost drains in crane operations is equipment turnover. Timber blocks, for example, might last only six months in regular use. In contrast, engineered plastics extend that lifespan significantly.
“If operators look after them by not losing them, they’ve got two years’ worth of life rather than six months,” said Ian Johnston, who leads Dotmar’s Western Australia operations. Dotmar operates eight plastic machining technology centres throughout Australia and New Zealand to cater to growing demand.
That difference isn’t just about durability. Timber absorbs moisture, splinters, and breaks down without warning, leading to unpredictable failures. By comparison, Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) pads maintain uniform strength over time. The result is fewer replacements, lower risk of downtime, and more predictable maintenance costs.
Labour efficiency: Less weight, less equipment
Labour time is another hidden cost on job sites. Heavy steel plates often require forklifts or additional crew to manoeuvre. Plastics, on the other hand, can be carried and positioned manually.
“The number one benefit is weight,” Ian said. “One person can lift it. You’re not dealing with timber that cracks or warps, or steel that needs a forklift. These are strong, manageable, and cost-effective.”
That advantage compounds across large fleets and multiple projects. Every time a pad can be deployed without calling in a forklift or allocating extra labour, operators save both time and money.
Predictable performance
Wood carries another hidden economic risk: inconsistency. Grain structure, density, and moisture content vary, even within the same batch. This unpredictability makes it difficult for companies to measure the real load-bearing capacity of their timber.
Plastics solve that problem with uniform, tested material properties. For crane hire companies quoting jobs and managing liability, that predictability translates into reduced exposure to risk and fewer costly surprises.
Ian said, “Timber absorbs moisture, breaks down over time, and you don’t know its exact capacity. With engineered plastics, you know exactly what you’re dealing with.”
Stock on hand, projects on time
Lead times are another area where costs add up. In fast-moving crane hire, a delayed component can stall an entire project. Dotmar addresses this by maintaining stock and offering rapid machining capabilities at its eight sites across Australia and New Zealand.
“We’ve held up to 800 pads before and can do it again,” Ian said. “If I know someone’s serious, I’ll bring in stock. The key is building relationships with partners who want reliable supply.”
That readiness means operators avoid expensive downtime waiting for parts to arrive. For new businesses trying to build credibility or established fleets working to tight schedules, that responsiveness is an economic safeguard.
Competitive pricing in a price-sensitive market
Outrigger pads are not glamorous purchases. Many operators see them as consumables, often lost or left behind on projects. In such a price-sensitive market, affordability is critical.
“These things do get left behind, so price is important,” Ian said. “But we can be very competitive on pricing, and the durability gives them longer life.”
By leveraging strong supplier relationships in Europe and manufacturing capabilities in Australia, Dotmar can offer pricing that competes directly with timber and steel – while outperforming both on total cost of ownership.
Extending the life of other assets
The economic case doesn’t stop at outrigger pads. Dotmar also produces wire rope sheaves from engineered plastics such as Nylatron GSM and Ertalon 6PLA. These components not only weigh one-seventh as much as steel but also extend rope life two to six times. That translates directly into fewer rope changes, reduced downtime, and lower operating costs.
Wear pads like Nylatron 703XL bring similar savings by ensuring smooth boom operation without lubrication, cutting maintenance and extending service intervals.
Every avoided rope replacement, every hour saved in servicing, and every kilo of dead weight removed adds up to dollars back in the operator’s pocket.
Sustainability that pays
Sustainability is often framed as a compliance cost, but in plastics it doubles as a savings driver. Dotmar incorporates regrind material into its pads, reducing environmental impact without compromising quality.
“It reduces the footprint of manufacture,” Ian said. “And the industry is starting to ask those questions more: what’s your sustainability story?”
For crane hire companies under pressure from clients to demonstrate greener practices, having a sustainability story is becoming essential. By choosing engineered plastics, they not only cut waste and extend product life but also strengthen their marketability in competitive tenders.
Economics that work for everyone
For new entrants into the crane hire industry, investing in plastics means building a fleet with lower overheads and fewer headaches. For established players, it’s about protecting margins and reducing the risk of downtime.
“These aren’t throwaway parts,” Ian said. “They’re engineered, tested, and built to work. What we really want is for people to know we’re here and ready.”
In a sector where profit margins can swing on downtime, replacements, or wasted labour, the argument for plastics is no longer just technical – it’s economic.
As crane companies across Australia weigh their options, engineered plastics are proving that the smarter choice is also the cheaper one.