What Manhole Form Hire does

Manhole Form Hire is an Australian private company founded in 1994 by master concreter Cliff Rae-Smith that rents modular, engineer-certified concrete formwork for in-situ construction of manholes, inspection chambers, and pits. Its core product is a mix-and-match system of inner/outer drums, pour boards, extension panels, taper forms, risers, heavy-duty and light-duty pit boxes, and patented accessories (Super Bolt fastener, Universal Corner Planing Plate, Work at Height Platform) that allow contractors to assemble custom configurations without bespoke fabrication. The technology stack is mechanical rather than digital: certifications cover Australian standards and work-at-height safety, and the modular architecture eliminates timber formwork fabrication costs for clients.

The company operates a usage-based hire model with daily, 3-day, and weekly rates, complemented by one-time sales of consumables (Lano-Form release agent, Pecaform sacrificial formwork, MFH patented bolts). Four distribution centres in Yatala (QLD), St Marys (NSW), Coolaroo (VIC), and Beerwah (QLD) provide next-day delivery across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, with regional coverage extending to Canberra, Wollongong, Newcastle, Geelong, and Bendigo. Go-to-market is sales-led: customers contact via phone (1300 MH FORM) or an online enquiry form, and a trade account application process supports repeat business.

Manhole Form Hire serves civil and infrastructure contractors, council and government bodies, pipelayers and drainage specialists, and pit builders/precast manufacturers, with primary use cases in stormwater reticulation, sewerage systems, pump stations, access chambers, stormwater pits, and electrical pits. Current leadership comprises founder/Chairman Cliff Rae-Smith, Managing Director and National Manager Barry Kuster (joined 2002, inventor of the Super Bolt), QLD Manager Jason Valle, NSW Manager Ben Sciuto, Victoria Manager John McClure, and Beerwah Supervisor Andrew. Disclosed named customers include Chadoak, The Tunnel Company, and Qld Coastal Plumbing; the company is privately held with no disclosed external investment.

Name

Manhole Form Hire

Legal name

Manhole Form Hire

Website

https://manholeformhire.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Manhole Form Hire rents modular, engineer-certified concrete formwork for in-situ manhole and pit construction to civil contractors, councils, and infrastructure builders across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria via four regional depots.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Equipment Rental

NAICS

Construction Machinery Manufacturing (33312)

SIC

Construction Machinery & Equip (3531)

akta.pro primary industry

Concrete & Masonry Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Roadbuilding & Paving Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAB), Concrete Equipment (Mixers, Pumps, Batching) (IMAHAAAK)

Keywords

• Concrete formwork hire
• Manhole form rental
• Pit box construction
• Civil construction equipment
• In-situ formwork systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Yatala

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Formwork Equipment Hire: Rental of concrete manhole forms, pit boxes, and associated equipment on daily, 3-day, and weekly rates. Equipment is delivered to site and picked up after use. Pricing varies by product type and hire duration.
2. Support Products Sales: Sale of support products including concrete release agents (Lano-Form), sacrificial formwork (Pecaform), nuts and bolts, and utility tools.
3. Pecaform Products: Sale of Pecaform - steel wire mesh with heat-shrunk polyethylene coating used for radius specifications, ground beams, footings, and special shapes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Manhole Form Hire rents modular, engineer-certified in-situ concrete formwork systems used by civil contractors to construct manholes, inspection chambers, access chambers, and pits for stormwater, sewerage, pump stations, and electrical infrastructure. Core hire items include standard manhole forms, taper forms and risers, heavy duty and light duty pit boxes, work-at-height platforms, backdrop panels, and converter slabs. The company also sells consumable support products including patented bolts, concrete release agents, and sacrificial formwork.

Product overview

Manhole Form Hire provides a modular, hire-based system of engineer-certified concrete formwork for constructing underground access chambers and pits. The core portfolio centres on Standard Manhole Forms and Pour Boards (inner drums, outer drums, pour boards, extension panels) paired with Taper Forms and Risers for height customisation. These are complemented by Heavy Duty Pit Boxes and Light Duty Pit Boxes (including stormwater pits, concrete drainage pits, and gully pits) for square/rectangular structures. The Work at Height Platforms and Scaffold Access system integrates with the modular forms for safe on-site access. Supporting accessories include Backdrop Panels for pipe entry integration, Converter Slabs with Aspro lids and neck rings, Inner Nib Walls, Concrete Kibbles for concrete delivery, Pecaform sacrificial formwork, MFH Patented Bolts, and Lano-form concrete release agent. All equipment is available for hire rather than purchase, with delivery across Queensland, NSW, and Victoria.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Standard Manhole Forms and Pour Boards An all-inclusive range of concrete form sizes and shapes (inner drums, outer drums, pour boards, extension panels) hired by civil contractors for constructing access chambers and manholes with circular cross-sections.
• Taper Forms and Risers Taper back forms and risers (inner and outer) that allow customisation of manhole form height and extending structure depth for varied project specifications.
• Heavy Duty Pit Boxes Sturdy pit box forms (900mm and 1500mm sizes with corner and panel configurations) for creating housing and environmental infrastructure, used by civil contractors for large-scale construction projects.
• Light Duty Pit Boxes Pit boxes (light duty panels, corners, stormwater pits, concrete drainage pits, gully pits) ideal for kerbside drainage, field inlets, and electrical pit channels.
• Work at Height Platforms and Scaffold Access Purpose-built, certified work-at-height platforms and scaffold stair/step access systems providing safe, stable access to manhole formwork during construction, integrating with the modular formwork system.
• Backdrop Panels Hired made-to-measure panels that connect domestic inflows directly to the base via vertical drop in the wall, eliminating the need for extensive forming and allowing pipe entry at any height.
• Converter Slabs (Aspro Lids and Neck Rings) Aspro lids and neck rings (inner and outer) for creating lids for access chambers and setting collar and cover to height, providing diameter and height adjustability with options for surface re-alignment and trafficable lids.
• Concrete Kibbles (1m³) 1 cubic metre concrete transfer equipment with manual chute operation, placeable by backhoe or digger, hired for concrete placement in locations not accessible by concrete truck.
• Pecaform Sacrificial Formwork Flexible sacrificial formwork consisting of steel wire mesh with heat-shrunk polyethylene coating, sold for use in radius specifications, ground beams, footings, bases, pile caps, construction joints, and custom shapes or curves.
• Lano-Form Concrete Release Agent Biodegradable form release agent that breaks concrete bonds and prevents sticking, extending form life; sold in 5L volumes through exclusive partnership with Lanotec.
• MFH Patented Bolts Patented M12 50mm concrete and debris-shedding nuts and bolts with coarser thread that self-cleans during use, sold individually and saving 15–30 minutes per form assembly and disassembly.

Quantifiable outcome

• Saves 15-30 minutes per form in assembly and 15-30 minutes in disassembly through patented super bolt design
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• PlyTec FormworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorised agents of PlyTec Formwork, offering Pecaform products - steel wire mesh with heat-shrunk polyethylene coating for radius specifications and special shapes.
• LanoteccoreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive partners offering Lanotec products including Lano-Form concrete release agent. Products are biodegradable and environmentally friendly.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Acrow Formwork & Scaffolding: Australian formwork and scaffolding hire and sales company. Directly comparable as a domestic specialist in concrete formwork hire serving civil contractors, with overlapping customer segments in stormwater, sewerage, and infrastructure.
• ULMA Construction: Formwork and scaffolding systems manufacturer with rental operations across Australia. Closely comparable in that it designs, owns, and rents proprietary formwork systems to civil contractors for in-situ concrete work, including infrastructure applications.
• Condor Formwork: Australian formwork hire specialist focused on civil and commercial concrete construction. Comparable niche specialism in concrete formwork hire with multi-state Australian presence and similar customer base.

Broad incumbents

• PERI: Global formwork and scaffolding manufacturer with significant rental operations worldwide. Comparable as a formwork supplier/hire company serving civil construction, though much larger and serving many segments beyond manholes.
• Layher: Global scaffolding and formwork systems manufacturer with rental partners. Comparable as a formwork systems supplier serving civil infrastructure projects, though predominantly scaffolding-led.
• Kennards Hire: Major Australian equipment rental chain with concrete and formwork categories. Comparable business model (usage-based hire, multi-state depot network) and overlapping customer base of civil contractors, but broader product mix.
• Coates Hire: Australia's largest equipment rental company offering a broad fleet that includes formwork and shoring. Comparable because it competes for the same civil-construction customers and offers similar hire/delivery logistics, though it is a generalist rather than a manhole-form specialist.
• Doka: Austrian-headquartered formwork specialist with global rental footprint. Comparable product category (concrete formwork hire) and customer overlap with civil/infrastructure contractors; broader portfolio but directly addresses the same use cases.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ManholeFormHire
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/manhole-form-hire-qld

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 Manhole Form Hire