Project Dry Hire

What Project Dry Hire does

Project Dry Hire is an Australian private company founded in 2010 that specializes in dry hire (operator-less rental) of heavy lifting and material handling equipment. Its diversified fleet spans seven equipment categories: cranes (pick-and-carry, rough terrain, and Liebherr crawler cranes up to 300T), mobile gantries and straddle carriers (Combilift units from 25T to 140T, plus Kalmar reach stackers), telehandlers (2.5T-25T from JCB, Manitou, Dieci, Magni, Merlo), forklifts (2.5T-33T from Crown, Mitsubishi, JCB, Kalmar, Konecranes), plant equipment (excavators, skid-steers, welders, generators), access equipment (Genie scissor and boom lifts), and transportation (utes, fuel trucks, hooklifts, and helicopters). The company supplies purpose-purchased and late-model equipment (majority under five years old) to construction, civil engineering, mining, aerospace, wind energy, precast concrete, steel fabrication, and heavy industry customers across Australia, with a stated operational reach to all states from offices in Kiama NSW and Newport QLD.

The technology layer centers on the MacTrack GPS tracking platform, which provides fleet location monitoring, maintenance scheduling, and a client portal with iOS/Android apps. The go-to-market model is sales-led and relationship-driven, with quote-based pricing, flexible hire terms from short-term to 12+ months, dedicated National Key Account Management, and optional operator training. Project Dry Hire is 100% Australian owned and operated, led by founder Aaron Shelley, with a small core team (1-10 employees) that manages the operational footprint. Its differentiation rests on capital-intensive fleet breadth, OEM partnerships with tier-1 manufacturers, and a service positioning focused on nonstandard or unusual lifting requirements rather than commodity equipment availability.

Name

Project Dry Hire

Legal name

Project Dry Hire Pty Ltd

Website

https://pdh.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Project Dry Hire is an Australian dry hire equipment company founded in 2010, renting cranes, mobile gantries, telehandlers, forklifts, and specialized transport (including helicopters) to civil, mining, construction, aerospace, and energy clients nationwide from offices in NSW and QLD.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Equipment Rental

NAICS

Construction, Transportation, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (53241), Construction, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (532412), Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (532490)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Material Handling Equipment Rental/Leasing (Forklifts, Telehandlers, Reach Trucks) (TLABAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Earthmoving & Excavation Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAA), Gear & Lifting Equipment Rental (Cranes, Spreaders, Forklifts, Reach Stackers) (TLAHALAD)

Keywords

• Dry hire equipment
• Crane rental services
• Material handling equipment
• Telehandler hire
• Construction equipment rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiama

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Dry Hire: Dry hire rental model where customers rent equipment for specified periods. The company provides cranes, telehandlers, forklifts, mobile gantries, straddle carriers, access equipment, plant equipment, and transportation vehicles. Hire terms include flexible medium-term and long-term options tailored to project requirements. Revenue is generated through equipment rental fees based on hire duration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Project Dry Hire provides dry hire (rental without operator) of heavy equipment including cranes (pick & carry, rough terrain, crawler up to 300T), mobile gantries and straddle carriers (25T-140T), telehandlers (2.5T-25T), forklifts (2.5T-33T), construction plant equipment, aerial access equipment, and transportation vehicles, with Australia-wide delivery. The company is differentiated by late-model equipment (majority less than five years old), customized solutions for nonstandard lifting requirements, MacTrack GPS fleet tracking, optional operator training, and provision of manuals, risk assessments and prestart logbooks with each rental.

Product overview

Project Dry Hire is an Australian dry hire equipment company offering a diversified fleet of heavy machinery across multiple categories. The core portfolio includes cranes (pick & carry, rough terrain, crawler from Terex, Link-Belt, Grove, Liebherr), mobile gantries and straddle carriers (Combilift 25T-70T, Kalmar reach stackers), telehandlers (2.5T-25T from JCB, Manitou, Dieci, Magni, Merlo), forklifts (2.5T-33T from Crown, Mitsubishi, JCB, Kalmar, Konecranes, Omega), plant equipment (excavators, skid-steer loaders, generators, welders), access equipment (scissor lifts, boom lifts from Genie), and transportation vehicles (utes, fuel trucks, hooklift trucks, helicopters). The company provides these as standalone rentals with optional add-on services including operator training and GPS fleet tracking via MacTrack. Equipment is delivered Australia-wide from offices in Kiama NSW and Newport QLD.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cranes for Hire Crane hire solutions including pick and carry cranes (Terex 20T, Terex 25T, Tidd PC25), rough terrain cranes (Link-Belt 50T-90T, Grove 50T-130T), and crawler cranes (Liebherr 280T-300T) for construction, mining, and infrastructure project customers.
• Mobile Gantry and Straddle Carrier Hire Mobile gantry cranes and straddle carriers including Combilift mobile gantries (25T, 50T, 70T), Combilift straddle carriers (35T, 90T), SPMT 35T load carriers, and Kalmar reach stackers (70T) for container and oversized load handling customers in distribution, shipping, aerospace, steel fabrication, wind energy, and precast concrete industries.
• Telehandlers for Hire Telescopic handler hire fleet from JCB, Manitou, Dieci, Magni, and Merlo ranging from compact 2.5T to heavy-duty 25T capacity, including rotating and high-reach models with lift heights up to 22 meters, serving construction, mining, agricultural and industrial customers.
• Forklifts for Hire Heavy-duty forklift hire ranging from 2.5T to 33T capacity including Crown, Mitsubishi, JCB, Omega, Konecranes, and Kalmar brands with options for rough terrain, mine spec, and warehouse applications serving heavy manufacturing, ports, mining, steel, and timber customers.
• Plant & Equipment for Hire Construction plant equipment hire including Kobelco SK135 excavators, Bobcat S550 skid-steer loaders, Caterpillar 906H wheel loaders, Miller Big Blue 700DX diesel welders, and JCB diesel generators (10-35 KVA) for construction and industrial customers.
• Access Equipment for Hire Aerial work platform hire including Genie scissor lifts and boom lifts with 40-80ft reach, rough terrain capabilities, mine site compliant options, and safety features including E-stop and battery isolators for construction, industrial, and mining customers.
• Transportation Equipment for Hire Transportation fleet hire including work utes, premium utes (Ford Ranger Wildtrack, Toyota Hilux SR5), Isuzu fuel trucks (6,000L tank), UD Quon hooklift trucks with Hyva systems, and helicopters (Eurocopter EC120B, Bell Huey UH-1H) for project transportation and aviation access needs.
• Equipment Training Services Skilled team provision of equipment operator training, safety instruction, and guidance on proper equipment use supplied alongside dry hire equipment rentals.

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• CombiliftcoreTechnology or IntegrationCombilift is a key equipment partner providing mobile gantries (25T-140T capacity) and straddle carriers. Project Dry Hire has over 12 Combilift MG units in Australia and partners with Combilift for specialized heavy lifting solutions for distribution, shipping, aerospace, steel fabrication, wind energy, and precast concrete industries.
• MacTrackcoreTechnology or IntegrationMacTrack GPS tracking technology partner providing vehicle location tracking across the fleet. The MacTrack app is available on iOS and Android with a client portal for equipment maintenance and tracking details.
• KalmarmajorTechnology or IntegrationKalmar provides reach stackers (70T capacity) and heavy forklifts (16T-25T capacity) for the equipment fleet. Kalmar reachstackers are known for reliability and innovative design with over 10,000 machines in operation globally.
• LiebherrmajorTechnology or IntegrationLiebherr provides crawler cranes (280T and 300T capacity) for heavy-duty lifting operations. Liebherr crawler cranes are available in different sizes up to 300T capacity with exceptional lifting power for construction, mining and infrastructure projects.
• Crown (Forklift Manufacturer)majorTechnology or IntegrationCrown provides a range of forklifts from 2.5T to 16T capacity including diesel forklifts, pneumatic tyre machines, and heavy-duty models. Crown CD Series forklifts deliver reliability, operator comfort, control, and serviceability.
• Mitsubishi (Forklift Manufacturer)majorTechnology or IntegrationMitsubishi provides forklifts including GRENDiA ES models and FG/FG-N series with capacities from 2.5T to 5T. These IC engine counterbalance forklift trucks set high standards for productivity and running costs.
• JCBmajorTechnology or IntegrationJCB provides rough terrain forklifts (4T-4.5T capacity) and telehandlers (3T-5T capacity). JCB rough terrain forklifts offer reliable, versatile, and easy-to-use solutions for rehandling environments from docks to yards, special events, timber forestry, and construction sites.
• ManitoumajorTechnology or IntegrationManitou provides telehandlers including compact (2.5T) and heavy-duty (9T) models. The Manitou MHT X790T 9T telehandler is part of the fleet alongside JCB, Dieci, Magni, and Merlo brands.
• GeniemajorTechnology or IntegrationGenie provides aerial work platform equipment including scissor lifts and boom lifts (40-80ft booms). Genie products offer competitive lift speed, large high-capacity platforms, and articulation capabilities for hard-to-access work areas.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Onsite Rental Group: Australian national equipment rental operator with a broad fleet including cranes, telehandlers, and material handling equipment. Competes with Project Dry Hire across multi-category dry hire projects.
• Boom Logistics: Australian crane and lifting services provider with mobile and crawler cranes. Competes with Project Dry Hire in crane hire for construction, mining, and infrastructure projects, including heavy-lift crawler cranes.
• Kennards Hire: National Australian equipment rental company with deep coverage across general and specialty equipment. Overlaps with Project Dry Hire in telehandlers, forklifts, cranes, and access equipment, particularly serving construction and infrastructure customers.
• Access Group Australia: Specialist Australian aerial work platform and access equipment rental company. Overlaps with Project Dry Hire's access equipment line (boom lifts, scissor lifts) and serves similar construction and industrial customers.
• United Forklift and Access Solutions: Australian specialist in forklift and access equipment rental with a national footprint. Directly comparable to Project Dry Hire's forklift and telehandler hire offering, including heavy-capacity and rough-terrain models.
• Coates: Australia's largest equipment hire operator offering cranes, forklifts, telehandlers, access equipment, and material handling solutions. Directly competes with Project Dry Hire across most fleet categories, with significantly greater scale and branch coverage.

Broad incumbents

• CJD Equipment: Major Australian distributor of heavy equipment including Volvo, Terex, and Manitou brands across construction, mining, and material handling. Adjacent to Project Dry Hire through shared OEMs and customer base, though primarily a sales/distribution model.
• Komatsu Australia: Australian subsidiary of a global heavy equipment OEM with significant construction, mining, and material handling presence. While primarily a manufacturer and seller, its rental and fleet management operations overlap with portions of Project Dry Hire's customer-facing activity.

Regional players

• Allied Equipment: Australian supplier and hirer of cranes, hoists, and lifting equipment including Combilift product lines. Comparable to Project Dry Hire's heavy-lift and mobile gantry offerings, particularly in NSW and QLD.
• HiReach: Australian specialist in elevated work platforms and access equipment hire. Comparable to Project Dry Hire's access equipment category but with narrower scope, primarily serving NSW and surrounding regions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClpjhfyYKzhfSAMVd6ZeGEQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProjectDryHire
• LinkedInau.linkedin.com/company/project-dry-hire

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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 Project Dry Hire