What Zone Group does

Zone Group is an Australian privately held specialised lifting equipment hire and sales company headquartered in High Wycombe, Perth, Western Australia, operating Australia-wide with delivery to Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide. Founded and led by directors Joe and Amy Ardizzone, the company carries 30+ years of operational history, with Joe contributing three decades in the mobile crane and telehandler industry and Amy contributing 15+ years of safety experience across construction, mining, oil and gas, and heavy lift/transport.

The company's core technology and product portfolio is built around vacuum lifting systems and precision telehandlers sourced from premium European and Japanese OEMs. As the exclusive authorised Australian distributor for Smartlift (Denmark), Oktopus/Wirth GMBH (Germany), Manitou (France), Wienold (Germany), and a distributor for Jekko and Maeda (Japan) mini cranes, Zone Group offers vacuum lifters/glazing robots (208 kg to 11,000 kg capacity), telehandlers (2-35 tonne), mini crawler/spider cranes (up to 24 m boom, 5,000 kg), all-terrain forklifts, electric pick-and-carry cranes, floor cranes, loading platforms, load cells, and specialised project-specific attachments. Technical differentiators include CAN-bus auto-stabilising controls, dual vacuum safety circuits, lithium/48V battery powertrains, modular ballast systems, and chassis levelling for unlevel terrain.

The business operates a hybrid revenue model combining usage-based equipment hire (wet hire with trained operators and dry hire, both short- and long-term), one-time equipment sales (new and used), and professional services through operator/rigger labour hire. Sales are driven by an enterprise field-sales motion with free on-site demonstrations and customised attachment design, supported by a digital content-marketing layer (blog, LinkedIn, Instagram, downloadable brochures). Customers span construction and glazing contractors (primary), industrial and mining operations (primary), manufacturing/warehousing, and agriculture/events. Industry memberships (Glass Window Association, HRIA, TSHA) provide credibility within the height-safety ecosystem.

Name

Zone Group

Legal name

Zone Group

Website

https://zoneg.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Zone Group is an Australian privately held specialised lifting equipment hire and sales company that distributes and rents premium European vacuum lifters, telehandlers, and spider cranes from brands like Smartlift, Oktopus, and Manitou across Australia's construction, glazing, mining, and industrial sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialised Lifting Equipment Hire & Sales

NAICS

Construction, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (532412)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531)

akta.pro primary industry

Lifting & Hoisting Rental & Leasing (IMAHAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Vacuum lifting equipment
• Telehandler hire
• Glazing robots
• Spider crane rental
• Materials handling

Headquarters

HQ city

Kenwick

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Hire: Short-term and long-term rental of lifting equipment including vacuum lifters, telehandlers, mini crawler cranes, floor cranes, pick-and-carry cranes, forklifts, loading platforms, A-frame trolleys, load cells, and specialised attachments. Wet hire (with operator) and dry hire (equipment only) options available. Hiring rates are 100% tax deductible.
2. Equipment Sales: Sale of new and used lifting equipment including Smartlift and Oktopus vacuum lifters, Manitou telehandlers and forklifts, floor cranes, and specialised attachments. Authorised Australian distributor for Smartlift, Oktopus, Manitou, and Wienold equipment.
3. Labour / Operator Hire: Provision of specifically trained operators and riggers suited to modern equipment and the continually changing work environment. Provided as part of wet hire packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Zone Group is a specialised lifting equipment hire and sales company distributing Smartlift and Oktopus vacuum lifters and glazing robots, Manitou telehandlers, forklifts, mini crawler/spider cranes, floor cranes, and related attachments across Australia. The company supplies both wet hire (with experienced operator) and dry hire (equipment only), alongside outright sales of new and used equipment, labour/operator hire, and an in-house workshop service for supported brands. Operations are headquartered in Perth (WA) with Australia-wide delivery, and the company designs and constructs custom project-specific attachments in conjunction with engineers.

Product overview

Zone Group is a specialised lifting equipment hire and sales company operating Australia-wide from Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide. The company offers a diversified portfolio of physical lifting equipment rather than a unified software platform. The core product categories include: (1) Smartlift vacuum lifters and glazing robots from Denmark (capacities 208kg-1,000kg) for glass, metal, and non-porous material handling; (2) Oktopus vacuum lifting technology from Germany (capacities 300kg-11,000kg) including glass lifters, panel/cladding lifters, counterweight systems, and factory manipulators; (3) Manitou telehandlers and forklifts (2-35 tonne capacity, lifting heights up to 32m); (4) Mini crawler/spider cranes (Maeda and Jekko-based Zone branded models) with capacities up to 5,000kg and boom heights up to 24m; (5) Electric pick-and-carry cranes; (6) Floor cranes (Wienold brand); (7) Loading platforms, load cells, and A-frame trolleys. Supporting services include workshop maintenance for supported brands, spare parts supply, and labour hire with trained operators. Zone Group serves construction, glazing, mining, agriculture, warehousing, and industrial sectors through both wet hire (with operator) and dry hire (self-operated) options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Smartlift Vacuum Lifters / Glazing Robots Smartlift glazing robots and vacuum lifters from Denmark, characterised by extreme precision, quality components and high usability. Range includes indoor and outdoor models with capacities from 208 kg to 1,000 kg for hire or sale Australia-wide.
• Oktopus Vacuum Lifters / Glass Lifters Oktopus vacuum lifting technology manufactured in Germany by Wirth GMBH, renowned for high standards in safety and quality. Capacities range from 300 kg to 11,000 kg, including glass lifters, panel lifters, cladding lifters, and factory manipulators, available for hire or sale.
• Manitou Telehandlers Manitou telehandlers (also known as telescopic handlers, teleporters or boom lifts) that are durable, versatile and reliable. Range includes models from 2 tonne to 35 tonne capacity with lifting heights up to 32 metres, available for wet or dry hire and sale.
• Manitou All-Terrain Forklifts Manitou 4WD all terrain forklifts capable of operating over all types of ground including uneven surfaces. Particularly robust, they remain efficient in extreme conditions. M-X and MC range with lifting capacities from 1,500 kg to 10,000 kg, available for hire and sale.
• Manitou Electric Forklift Trucks Manitou ME 425C Electric Forklift Truck with maximum load capacity of 2,500 kg. Compact design ideal for efficient handling in tight work areas, 48V battery powered for indoor and outdoor use, available for hire and sale.
• Mini Crawler Cranes / Spider Cranes Mini crawler and spider cranes perfect for worksites with confined space where loads need to be lifted to great heights. Continuous tracks make them ideal for rough or uneven grounds. Models include Maeda MC174, Zone 424, Zone 532, and Zone 650 with capacities up to 5,000 kg and booms up to 24 metres, available for hire.
• Floor Cranes (Wienold) Wienold floor cranes from Germany, manufactured by Wienold-Lifte GmbH with over 30 years of experience. Includes rotating models such as the MRC 751 (720 kg capacity, 360° rotation) and the MFC 750 Mini Floor Crane (900 kg, 2.9 m maximum height), available for hire and sale with no minimum hire period.
• E20.2 Pick & Carry Crane 2-tonne fully electric pick-and-carry crane combining crane power with precision glass handling robot capabilities. Lithium battery powered with steer-by-wire system, 7.4 m max height, 4.9 m max radius, modular ballast, full-day runtime, non-marking indoor wheels. Available for wet and dry hire across Australia.
• Smartlift SL809 High Reach Glazing Robot Highest-reaching vacuum lifter in the Zone Group lineup with 800 kg lifting capacity, 6,000 mm lifting height, 3.3 m telescoping arm extension, and side-shift capability ±100 mm. Full electric/battery-powered remote-controlled vacuum system, available for hire.
• Workshop Services Workshop support service covering Manitou, Smart Lift, Oktopus, Jekko, and Maeda equipment brands, providing authorised maintenance and repair to support the hire fleet and customer-owned equipment across Australia.
• Smart Lift Spare Parts Authorised Australian distributor for Smart Lift spare parts, with a range of parts kept in stock to support maintenance and repairs of Smart Lift vacuum lifting machines.
• Labour / Operator Hire Provision of specifically trained operators and riggers suited to modern lifting equipment and complex work environments, supplied as part of Zone Group wet hire packages.

Quantifiable outcome

• Smartlift vacuum lifters can lift up to 1,000 kg, eliminating manual handling of heavy glass and reducing workers compensation insurance premiums.
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Smartlift (Denmark)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2016Zone Group partnered with Smartlift in 2016 as an authorised distributor in Australia, later becoming the exclusive authorised dealer of Smartlift glazing robots within Australia. They offer sales and rental of Smartlift vacuum lifting robots with capacities from 208 kg to 1,000 kg. Smartlift, established in 2008 and headquartered in Denmark, manufactures world-class vacuum/glass lifting equipment characterised by extreme precision, quality components, and high usability.
• Oktopus / Wirth GMBH (Germany)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZone Group is the authorised Australian distributor for Oktopus glass lifters, panel lifters, and factory systems, manufactured by Wirth GMBH in Germany. Oktopus is recognised worldwide as the benchmark in vacuum lifting technology, with capacities ranging from 300 kg to 11,000 kg. Zone Group also distributes Oktopus factory manipulators including Ergo Jet, Ergo Lift, Ergo Pick, Ergo Sprint, and Ergo Up models.
• Manitou (France)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZone Group supplies Manitou telehandlers, forklifts, and work platforms throughout Australia. Manitou, established in 1958 and headquartered in France, is world renowned for producing high quality materials handling equipment including over 30 telehandler models with lifting capacities from 2,000 kg to 35,000 kg. Manitou serves agriculture, construction, mining, railway, warehousing, defence, and events sectors globally.
• Wienold-Lifte GmbH (Germany)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZone Group is an Australian distributor for Wienold Floor Cranes. Wienold-Lifte is a German limited liability company (GmbH) with over 30 years of experience manufacturing industry-leading floor cranes and other material and personnel lifting equipment. Products include the Wienold MRC 751 (720 kg capacity, 360° rotation) and Wienold MFC 750 Mini Floor Crane (900 kg, 2.9m max height).
• Jekko (Mini Cranes)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZone Group supplies Jekko mini crawler cranes and spider cranes, including the Zone 424 (8.5m boom, 2,400 kg capacity) and Zone 532 (17m boom, 3,200 kg capacity) models.
• Maeda (Japan)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZone Group supplies Maeda mini crawler cranes, including the Maeda MC174 model (5.5m boom, 1.72 tonne capacity, only 590mm wide). Maeda is a Japanese manufacturer of compact crawler cranes.
• Glass Window AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry association membership providing credibility, networking, and referral pathways within the glass and window installation industry in Australia.
• HRIA (Height Safety & Access Equipment Industry Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry membership in HRIA (Height Safety & Access Equipment Industry Association) providing industry credibility, safety standards alignment, and access to the height safety equipment industry network.
• TSHA (Telescopic Handlers Safety Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTSHA membership demonstrates Zone Group's commitment to telescopic handler safety standards and provides networking within the telehandler safety community in Australia.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Liebherr: German-owned global manufacturer of mobile cranes, crawler cranes, and telehandlers; competitors in the mini/spider crane and heavy lifting categories where Zone competes via Maeda and Jekko platforms.
• United Rentals: The world's largest equipment rental company with broad aerial, telehandler, and specialty equipment offerings; benchmark for fleet density, utilization, and cross-sell economics relevant to Zone's category mix.
• JLG Industries: Global aerial work platform manufacturer (part of Oshkosh) with adjacent offerings in telehandlers and material handling; comparable on the powered-access/specialty lifting equipment category overlap.
• Terex Corporation: Global manufacturer and rental operator of aerial work platforms, telehandlers, and lifting equipment via brands like Genie and Terex Utilities; broader portfolio but overlapping materially with Zone's telehandler and material handling categories.
• Boels Rental: Europe's largest equipment rental company with broad aerial, material handling, and tooling fleets; a useful international benchmark for how a scaled specialist rentaler monetizes a multi-category fleet.
• Manitou Group: Global OEM of telehandlers, forklifts, and aerial work platforms that Zone distributes in Australia; relevant as the incumbent brand whose full product catalog Zone channels, and as a benchmark for vertically integrated equipment manufacturers.

Direct peers

• Kennards Hire: Long-established Australian equipment hire specialist with a broad fleet of telehandlers, forklifts, and access equipment; competes head-to-head with Zone on construction site lifting rentals across WA, NSW, VIC, and QLD.
• Maxim Crane Works: US-based crane rental specialist operating a large fleet of mobile, crawler, and boom cranes for industrial and infrastructure customers; directly comparable in specialized lifting-rental business model.
• Boom Logistics: Australian crane and lifting specialist offering mobile cranes, rigging, and specialized lifting services to industrial and resources customers; closely comparable in service scope and Australia-focused GTM motion.
• Coates Hire: Australia's largest equipment hire company operating nationwide, with deep overlap in telehandlers, all-terrain forklifts, and lifting equipment rentals serving the same construction and industrial customer base as Zone Group.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zone-group-pty-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Zone Group