What Lifting Gear UK does

Lifting Gear UK is a UK specialist lifting and handling equipment provider offering an integrated portfolio of equipment hire, equipment sales, statutory LOLER inspections, repairs, contract lifting, and bespoke design and fabrication services. Operating 11 branches across England and Scotland — from Glasgow to Bridgwater, with a dedicated depot serving Hinkley Point nuclear project — the company serves construction, infrastructure, renewable energy, manufacturing and general industrial customers through a B2B sales-led model that combines regional depot field sales with an e-commerce webshop for smaller transactions. Capacity spans standard chain slings, shackles, webbing/round slings, lifting beams, hoists, winches, jacking equipment, height safety gear and crane systems, up to heavy lifting and jacking equipment of 900 tonnes through modular beams to 1,000 tonnes and Dyneema slings from 200t to 600t, supported by 3D lifting arrangement drawings and proof load testing through the Lifting Projects subsidiary.

Revenue is generated across several streams: recurring equipment hire of cranes, hoists, slings, jacks and material handling equipment with same-day and next-day delivery; one-time equipment sales through branches and online; statutory LOLER inspections and thorough examinations producing digital or hard-copy certification; on-site and off-site repair services returning items with valid Reports of Thorough Examination; and contract lifting plus bespoke fabrication through Lifting Projects' Steelwise division (EU/UKCA standards). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; account registration is available for business customers via the webshop. Distribution covers England and Scotland directly, with the parent group Axel Johnson International extending presence to 19 countries and ~200 companies.

The company was founded in November 2007 by Chris Turner (formerly of Ainscough Crane Hire), acquired the assets and trading name of Teesside-based Shaw Lifting in 2017, was sold to Axel Johnson International's Lifting Solutions Group in May 2023, and was restructured in January 2025 under Lifting Gear UK Group Ltd as the parent entity with Lifting Gear UK and Lifting Projects UK operating as trading names. Documented customer outcomes include Align JV's HS2 South Portal programme, where LGUK's digital inspection regime produced £64k in hire cost reduction and £180k in avoided replacement sales while reducing unsafe items from 379 to 100. LEEA-qualified personnel provide over 180 years of combined lifting experience, backed by ISO 9001/14001/45001, Achilles Energy Gold, Achilles Silver, JOSCAR, FORS Silver, CPA, SSIP/SafeContractor, BSI and LEEA memberships enabling pre-qualification into the most demanding UK construction, energy and defence supply chains.

Name

Lifting Gear UK

Legal name

Lifting Gear UK Group Ltd

Website

https://lifting-equipment.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Lifting Gear UK is a UK specialist lifting and handling equipment provider delivering equipment hire, sales, LOLER inspections, repairs, and contract lifting services through 11 branches across England and Scotland, serving construction, infrastructure, renewable energy, and industrial customers. Owned by Axel Johnson International since May 2023.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lifting Equipment Services

NAICS

Construction Machinery Manufacturing (33312)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Lifting Accessories & Rigging (Slings, Shackles, Hooks, Spreaders) (IMAHAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lifting & Hoisting Rental & Leasing (IMAHAJAN), Cranes, Hoists & Overhead Material Handling (Industrial) (IMAHABAE), Crane & Hoist Components (Wire Rope, Chain, Drums, Sheaves, Motors, Controls) (IMAHAJAK), Cranes & Heavy Lifting Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAD)

Keywords

• Lifting equipment hire
• Lifting equipment sales
• LOLER inspection services
• Contract lifting solutions
• Material handling equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Leyland

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Hire: Recurring rental revenue from hire fleet including cranes, hoists, slings, jacks, and material handling equipment. Flexible short-term and long-term rental options with same-day and next-day delivery.
2. Equipment Sales: One-time purchase revenue from full product range including chain slings, shackles, height safety equipment, wire rope, and accessories. Online webshop and branch sales.
3. LOLER Inspections and Testing: Statutory inspection and testing services ensuring LOLER compliance for lifting equipment. Qualified personnel conduct thorough examinations with digital certification.
4. Repair Services: On-site and off-site repair services for all lifting equipment including chain slings, hydraulic jacks, and chain blocks. Items returned with valid Report of Thorough Examination.
5. Contract Lifting: Full contract lifting service through Lifting Projects UK including planning, risk assessment, equipment selection, and supervision of lifting operations.
6. Design and Manufacture: Custom design and fabrication of bespoke lifting arrangements through Lifting Projects' Steelwise division, meeting EU/UKCA standards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lifting Gear UK supplies, hires, inspects, and repairs lifting and handling equipment across the UK through 11 branches. The company offers chain slings, hoists, jacks, height safety gear, and heavy lifting equipment up to 900 tonnes, alongside LOLER inspection, repair, contract lifting, and bespoke design/manufacture services.

Product overview

Lifting Gear UK is a comprehensive lifting and handling equipment provider offering a unified portfolio of equipment hire, sales, inspection services, repairs, and bespoke fabrication. The company operates 11 branches across the UK and provides products ranging from heavy lifting and jacking equipment with capacities up to 900 tonnes to general site and manual handling equipment. Core products include chain slings (Grade 8, 10, 6 Stainless), webbing and round slings, shackles and lifting points, lifting beams, material handling equipment, lashing gear, jacking equipment, hoisting and winching equipment, height safety equipment, fork and crane attachments, crane systems, clamps and trolleys, and wire rope accessories. Services include LOLER inspections, repairs, Lifting Projects (complex lifting solutions, machinery moving, design and manufacture), and LEEA-accredited training through sister company Certex UK. The company sells and hires equipment from brands including Tractel, Miller WebLift, Powertex, Green Pin, Yoke, Crosby, Eichinger, Conquip, Nu-Star, Genie, Wienold, and Enerpac.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Equipment Hire
• Equipment Sales
• LOLER Inspections and Testing
• Repair Services
• Contract Lifting Service
• Design and Manufacture
• Training Services
• Heavy Lifting Equipment (up to 1000 tonnes)

Quantifiable outcome

• Certification turnaround reduced from days to within 24 hours
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Axel Johnson International (Lifting Solutions Group)coreOthers · 1 May 2023Parent company ownership. Lifting Gear UK was acquired by Axel Johnson International's Lifting Solutions Group in May 2023. Part of a global specialist in lifting equipment, steel wire rope, and related services operating across 19 countries with over 1,670 employees.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Selwood: UK-based pump and rental solutions provider serving construction, infrastructure, and industrial customers. Competes with LGUK in the broader equipment rental market with overlap in lifting and materials handling categories.
• Columbus McKinnon: Global designer and manufacturer of hoists, cranes, and lifting solutions. While primarily an OEM whose products are stocked by LGUK, it competes at the equipment-supply level for the same end customers and industrial projects.
• Speedy Hire: FTSE-listed UK equipment rental giant with ~200 locations and broad product range including lifting gear. Larger and more diversified than LGUK but competes for the same construction and infrastructure customer wallet.
• Sunbelt Rentals UK: Subsidiary of US-based Sunbelt Rentals, one of the largest equipment rental companies globally. Operates a broad UK rental portfolio that includes lifting equipment, putting it in indirect competition with LGUK's hire fleet.

Direct peers

• King Lifting: UK-based lifting services specialist offering crane hire, contract lifting, and LOLER inspection/testing. Directly overlaps LGUK's core hire, inspection, and contract-lifting proposition with a similar regional depot model.
• Hewden: UK crane and powered-access hire specialist with national coverage and significant heavy-lift capability. Competes with LGUK for construction, infrastructure, and industrial lifting contracts across the UK.
• Nationwide Platforms: UK's leading powered access platform specialist, part of the Loxam Group. Overlaps LGUK's height-safety equipment and crane-system lines, particularly in construction and facilities maintenance end markets.
• Ainscough Crane Hire: Largest UK crane hire company with national depot coverage and similar heavy-lift capability. Closely comparable given LGUK founder Chris Turner spent 35 years at Ainscough and current Operations Director Sharon Keeley also worked there in lifting operations.

Others

• HSS Hire:
• Lifting Solutions Group (Axel Johnson sister companies): Sister operating companies within Axel Johnson International's Lifting Solutions Business Group, including Certex UK and Lifting Gear and Safety. They are not competitors but adjacent group entities that share resources, training capability, and customer relationships with LGUK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lifting-gear-uk-ltd
• Facebookfacebook.com/123198711564

Compliance13 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Lifting Gear UK