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Axel Johnson International’s Lifting Solutions business has ventured out of Europe for the first time acquiring five lifting companies in Australia. Jenny Eagle speaks to LEEA about the news as well as its announcement to set up a Regional Council for Australia & New Zealand.

The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) has created a Regional Council for Australia and New Zealand to take greater local control and ownership over local decisions with its own people, budget and work plan.

It has selected 10 industry leaders to form the Council who are committed to increasing the awareness of LEEA in the region, showcasing its benefits, growing its demand and profile across major industries and focusing on local initiatives that support the area’s specific needs. They will work together collectively for the greater good of the lifting industry in Australia and New Zealand, as well as to support LEEA’s goals in the region.

The team includes Steve Flint founder and CEO, of The Rigging Shed, Western Australia and regional director for Australia on the LEEA Board; Adam Thompson, MD, Stenhouse Lifting; Guy Roberts, managing director, Noble & Son, Adelaide; Ashley Thacker, GM, Ranger Lifting Rigging Safety (NSW & VIC); Andy Campbell, national technical and services manager, Bunzl, Queensland; Mark Eberhard, GM, RMB Lifting, Adelaide; Navin Kumar, branch manager, Lifting Victoria; David Wilson, owner, Active Lifting Equipment; Rob Smit, business manager, services, Cookes New Zealand and Justin Boehm, regional GM Australia, LEEA.

The Regional Council for Australia and New Zealand is the first step towards a ‘hub and bespoke’ model for LEEA, which is designed to maximise the Association’s global footprint through regional delivery. Australia and New Zealand provides the template to move forward with similar Regional Councils for the Middle East and South East Asia later in the year.

“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity for the region and a significant benefit to the Lifting Equipment industry in Australian and New Zealand,” said Boehm. “The Regional Council will be led by local industry leaders, to push forward the benefits of LEEA membership and looking forward to the future of an incredibly important industry. With their support and guidance, we will achieve the recognition our members deserve.

“We wanted to set up a Regional Council to become more regionalised because the members are somewhat different to the UK. It’s a great opportunity for us to shape the model of service delivery to our members here.

“There are some fantastic events and training development plans in the pipeline. The best part is that as a lifting community the region is coming together, putting individual business and commercial priorities aside, to collectively improve lifting standards and work with government, local industry and safety regulators to ensure that.”

A specific work plan has been created that directly aligns to LEEA’s Global Strategic Objectives which include; upholding the Gold Standard; raising awareness of members’ excellence; professional development of people across the industry; sustainable development and supporting the global industry.

Boehm said the biggest news in the region recently was the announcement that Axel Johnson International has expanded globally within the lifting segment through the acquisition of five Australian companies; The Rigging Shed, Lifting Victoria, Elevate Lifting & Rigging, Schillings Hoisting Equipment and On Call Lifting, effective last month (August 31).

The companies have 10 sites strategically distributed across the west, south and east part of Australia and will form a group under the leadership of Flint, who owns the largest company in the group, The Rigging Shed.

With approximately AUD 40 million in sales and 125 employees, the companies provide lifting and rigging equipment and related services. Their success is built on strong product knowledge, solid local relationships and a diversified customer base.

Today, the companies are affiliated through an organisation called the Global Lifting group where the companies collaborate within purchasing.

Axel Johnson International’s Lifting Solutions business has ventured out of Europe