Axel Johnson grows globally with Australian acquisitions

Axel Johnson International’s Lifting Solutions business group is expanding its business outside Europe through an acquisition of five lifting companies in Australia – The Rigging Shed, Lifting Victoria, Elevate Lifting & Rigging, Schillings Hoisting Equipment and On Call Lifting, effective August 31.

The companies have ten sites strategically distributed across the west, south and east part of Australia and will form a group under the leadership of Steven Flint, currently the managing director of the largest company in the group, The Rigging Shed.

With approximately AU$40 million (SEK 260 million) in sales and 125 employees, the companies provide lifting and rigging equipment and related services. Their success is built on strong product knowledge, solid local relationships and a diversified customer base.
Today, the companies are affiliated through an organisation called the Global Lifting Group (GLG) where the companies collaborate within purchasing.

Ralf Wiberg, managing director of Lifting Solutions said, “We are very excited about this opportunity which is a milestone in our ambition to support our customers globally. All companies have a well-established market position, competent and dedicated co-workers, and we are confident that they will fit very well into our group.”

Steven Flint, managing director of The Rigging Shed, is equally enthusiastic about the acquisition he said, “Becoming a part of Axel Johnson International will allow us to widen our product range, strengthen our supplier relationships and our market concept. We really look forward to working with the Lifting Solutions group and our current customer base as we grow together.”

Axel Johnson International is a global industrial group of more than 150 companies in 30 countries. It drives business development and growth through a long-term approach to ownership in strategically selected niche markets, primarily technical components and solutions for industrial processes. Axel Johnson International is organised in six business groups: Driveline Solutions, Fluid Handling Solutions, Industrial Solutions, Lifting Solutions, Power Transmission Solutions and Transport Solutions. Axel Johnson International is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden and is part of the Swedish family-owned corporate group Axel Johnson.

Lifting Solutions is a global player specialising in lifting equipment, steel wire rope and services. It operates as a group of companies that supplies wire rope, hoists, overhead cranes and other lifting products supported with connected technical and engineering services.