WASP Diesel offers the underground coal industry a range of power diesel equipment solutions including generators, compressors, fuel tanks and power distribution equipment, while Onsite offers a range of portable building and elevator work platforms.

Onsite said the acquisition increased its critical mass at a national level, with the business now in more locations and able to offer greater support to the underground coal industry.

“The WASP acquisition increases Onsite's technical capacity to provide innovative solutions to the industry,” it said.

Onsite’s customers include BHP, BMA, Rio Tinto, Thiess, John Holland, Monadelphous and Leighton Contractors.

Onsite managing director Trevor James said the global financial crisis had forced many large organisations to focus more heavily on cost control and this would be a key dynamic in the rental market.

“Emerging from the GFC we are already seeing customers are much savvier in their approach to procurement and we believe we are well positioned to respond to this change,” he said.

Since 2005 the rental market has enjoyed a 12% growth rate in line with mining, engineering and construction activity over the period.