What AFI-Uplift does

AFI-Uplift Limited (operating as AFI Rentals) is a UK-headquartered, private powered access equipment company founded in 1998 and registered in Normanton, West Yorkshire. The group supplies and rents mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), scissor lifts, boom lifts (articulating and telescopic), spider lifts, truck-mounted platforms up to 56m, van-mounted cherry pickers, mast lifts, push-around platforms, underbridge units, construction hoists, and telehandlers. It also sells new and used equipment via AFI-Resale and runs accredited training programmes through AFI-Training, including IPAF (3a/3b/1b, PAL Plus, MEWPs for Managers), PASMA, and CITB ATO courses. Service Maintenance Agreements (SMAs) provide recurring maintenance for customer-owned MEWPs.

Revenue is generated through four streams: short- and long-term equipment hire (quote-based, with a Service Level Pledge guarantee, offered via website, mobile app, contact center, and depot; priced as recurring contracts for long-term hire); one-time equipment sales of new and used machines; professional training services; and recurring SMAs. The company distributes through a 15+ depot nationwide UK network covering Birmingham, East Midlands, Hull, Liverpool, London (East and South), Manchester, Milton Keynes, North East, Peterborough, Scotland, Wakefield, Wales (Caldicot and Swansea), and Winchester, complemented by a self-serve website, iOS/Android app, phone contact center, and sector-specific landing pages.

Customer segments span eight verticals — Construction (primary), Infrastructure, Renewables, Installation, Telecoms, Maintenance, Industrial, and Media — targeted through both direct-to-consumer online channels and an enterprise field-sales motion for complex or specialized needs (truck-mounted platforms, spider lifts, underbridge units). AFI-Uplift is part of the AFI Group, which includes legacy brands Wilson Access, Rapid Hoists, Facelift, Spiderlift, and Access Rental Gulf, and has had Equistone Partners Europe as a private-equity investor since 2006.

Name

AFI-Uplift

Legal name

AFI-Uplift Limited

Website

https://afi-uplift.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

AFI-Uplift (AFI Rentals) is a UK-headquartered powered access equipment rental, sales, and training company founded in 1998, operating 15+ nationwide depots and serving construction, infrastructure, renewables, telecoms, industrial, maintenance, installation, and media customers with MEWPs, booms, spider lifts, and training services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Powered Access Equipment Rental

NAICS

Construction, Transportation, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (53241)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531)

akta.pro primary industry

Lifting & Hoisting Rental & Leasing (IMAHAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Cranes & Heavy Lifting Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAD)

Keywords

• Powered access equipment
• Aerial work platforms
• Scissor lift hire
• Boom lift rental
• Operator training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wakefield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equipment Hire: Short-term and long-term rental of powered access platforms including scissor lifts, boom lifts, spider lifts, truck mounts, van mounts, mast lifts, push arounds, underbridge units, and construction hoists. Hire options include 7-day service, long-term hire contracts, and service level pledges.
2. Equipment Sales: Sale of new and used powered access platforms. The company operates AFI-Resale for pre-owned equipment sales across all machine categories.
3. Training Services: IPAF operator training (3a, 3b, 1b), PASMA tower for users training, IPAF PAL Plus, IPAF E-Learning, and IPAF MEWPs for Managers courses. CITB ATO accredited training provider.
4. Service Maintenance Agreements (SMAs): Service and maintenance plans for customer-owned mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) to ensure compliance, safety, and reduced downtime.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AFI-Uplift rents and sells powered access platforms (scissor lifts, articulating and telescopic boom lifts, spider lifts, truck- and van-mounted platforms, mast lifts, push-arounds, underbridge units, construction hoists, and telehandlers) through a UK depot network of 15+ locations. It complements equipment supply with IPAF and PASMA accredited operator training and Service Maintenance Agreements for ongoing fleet upkeep.

Product overview

AFI-Uplift operates as a powered access equipment rental, sales, and training company under AFI-Uplift Limited. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of powered access equipment for hire and sale, including Scissor Lifts, Articulating Boom Lifts, Telescopic Boom Lifts, Truck Mounted Platforms, Spider Lifts, Van Mount Cherry Pickers, Mast Lifts, Push Arounds (PAV Lifts), Underbridge Units, Construction Hoists, and Telehandlers. Supporting the equipment business, AFI-Uplift provides professional training services (IPAF and PASMA accredited), Service Maintenance Agreements (SMAs), AI-powered Site SurvAI survey assistance, and BIM planning services. The company serves multiple industry sectors including construction, infrastructure, renewables, telecoms, maintenance, industrial, media, and installation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AFI Training: Health, Safety and Skills training division providing IPAF and PASMA training courses for powered access operators.
• AFI Resale

Products and services

• Scissor Lifts Vertical-lift powered access platforms available for hire, used by construction, installation and maintenance teams that need a stable elevated work platform indoors or outdoors at moderate heights.
• Articulating & Telescopic Boom Lifts Self-propelled boom lifts (articulating and telescopic) for hire, used when projects require outreach beyond scissor-lift reach to elevated or obstructed working positions.
• Spider Lifts Compact tracked aerial platforms with working heights up to 40m, available for hire for sites with limited access where larger machines cannot operate.
• Truck Mounted Platforms Vehicle-mounted platforms offering working heights up to 56m, available for hire for projects requiring high-reach access that can be driven between locations.
• Van Mounted Pick-Up Cherry Pickers Light commercial vehicle-mounted platforms offered for hire for shorter-duration, single-operator work such as signage, lighting and utility tasks.
• Mast Lifts Vertical mast-style powered access platforms available for hire, suited to indoor finishing, fit-out and maintenance work.
• Push Around Vertical Lifts (PAV Lifts) Manually positioned, low-level push-around platforms for hire, used for low-height tasks by operators pushing the unit into place.
• Underbridge Units Specialist underbridge inspection and maintenance units available for hire for working beneath bridges and elevated structures.
• Construction Hoists Construction hoist platforms offered for hire to move personnel and materials vertically on building sites.
• Telehandler Sales New and used telehandlers sold directly to customers who need telehandler equipment but do not wish to hire.
• IPAF Operator Training IPAF-accredited operator training courses covering categories 3A (mobile vertical), 1A (static vertical) and additional categories, delivered by AFI's in-house training division for individuals and corporate customers.
• PASMA Tower For Users Training PASMA-accredited Tower For Users training course, delivered by AFI Training to individuals and contractors who assemble, alter, dismantle or use mobile access towers.
• Service Maintenance Agreements (SMAs) Contracted Servicing and Maintenance Contracts covering LOLER/PUWER inspections and machine safety checks for customers' own powered access fleets, delivered by AFI's service engineering teams.
• Site SurvAI (AI Site Survey Assistant) AI-powered site survey assistant that helps site teams plan working-at-height equipment selection and layout, offered to customers as a value-added surveying service alongside equipment hire.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1.4 million kg of CO2 offset through sustainability initiatives

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Riwal: European leader in aerial work platform rental and sales, operating across multiple countries. Directly comparable to AFI in fleet composition, customer segments, and rental model.
• Mateco: European aerial work platform and forklift rental specialist with operations across multiple geographies. Overlapping fleet (scissor lifts, booms, telehandlers) and customer base make it a direct peer.
• Loxam: European leader in equipment rental including powered access platforms. Comparable in fleet diversity and customer focus on construction and industrial segments.
• Nationwide Platforms: One of the largest powered access rental companies in the UK and Europe, part of the Riwal Group. Directly competes with AFI-Uplift across scissor lifts, boom lifts, and specialized equipment hire.

Broad incumbents

• BrandSafway: Global access and scaffolding solutions provider with a UK presence. Overlaps with AFI on access solutions, particularly for large infrastructure and industrial projects.
• Vp plc: UK-listed equipment rental specialist operating multiple divisions including Brandon Hire Station and ESS Safeforce. Overlaps with AFI in powered access and tools hire.
• HSS Hire: UK tool and equipment hire chain with national coverage. Competes with AFI in smaller-scale powered access and access equipment categories.
• Sunbelt Rentals UK: UK arm of Ashtead Group, one of the largest equipment rental companies globally. Offers powered access as part of a broader rental portfolio including tools, plant, and industrial equipment.
• Speedy Hire: UK-listed equipment rental and services provider offering tools, plant, and powered access. Competes with AFI in construction and infrastructure segments with a broader product range.

Emerging players

• Manlift Group: Powered access equipment rental specialist operating across the Middle East and other emerging markets. Comparable fleet composition though focused on different geographies than AFI.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AFIUplift

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AFI-Uplift