Charlie Camilleri, the namesake of the A$10 million-plus-a-year business, spearheaded the buyout of Brambles Industrial Services' Mackay depot three years ago to form CIA. He added to his profitable business with the purchase of Howard Crane Hire at Middlemount in 2003. The most recent buy was the smaller Perrett Crane Hire in Blackwater, which had four cranes in its fleet.

CIA's business was "80% mining, 20% construction", said Camilleri, with its fleet of more than 50 cranes. The mix includes 35-200-tonne all-terrain mounted cranes, 16-20t Frannas, 50t rough terrain cranes, 50 and 100t crawler cranes and lattice booms. There are also a number of tower cranes to meet the growing residential building sector in Mackay, Airlie Beach, Townsville and Cairns. More than 100 forklifts are also available for hire.

"The (Perrett) acquisition was always in the strategic growth plans for the company when it started in 2001, and underpins the company's presence and support of the mining resources sector throughout the Bowen Basin," Camilleri told CEN.

"It fits well into our business, and gives us our fifth depot in the Bowen Basin. That has tied up the Bowen Basin for us, enabling us to service the same companies all the way through the region."

While Camellieri accepts the "highly competitive nature" of the crane hire business, he says the company is well positioned to grow its turnover by 10% each year. With its large fleet, strict safety regulations, strong maintenance ability and capacity to minimise downtime, CIA would grow with increasing customer demand, he said.

"The further move into the southern Bowen Basin area will see the company further develop its customer relationships with the mines in the middle to lower Basin areas and support existing customers at the Moranbah and Nebo depots," he said.

"CIA has established detailed operating procedures and processes for systemic quality, safety and risk management to ensure the safety of its operators and customers at all times."

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