The best businesses start with solving someone’s problem – and a serious passion to do so.
And for Roland Carlassare, it was the repeated borrowing of his tools that sparked an idea – being the mate that has the tool for every job, only scaled larger. So in 1979, what began as lending gear to his friends quickly evolved into Pacific Hire: a trusted, family-run equipment hire business based in Myrtleford, Victoria.
More than four decades later, Pacific Hire is still proudly family-driven, now led by next-generation Raimond and Deanne, with the help of Christian Grzankowski – the General Manager.
From branches in Wangaratta, Somerton, and Adelaide, the business supports everyone from weekend warriors to Tier 1 contractors on major builds, power stations, and solar farms – with over 10,000 assets in its ever-expanding fleet.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Christian, who brings over 20 years of experience in the Hire Industry, having worked with several major brands and witnessed the evolution of machinery hire firsthand.
Standing Out in a Competitive Industry
In a saturated market, Pacific Hire has carved out a reputation built on relationships, not transactions.
“We have that personal touch, so the clients don’t feel like a number. You get that with bigger companies,” says General Manager Christian Grzankowski.
That genuine care – for customers and equipment – is paired with deep industry knowledge and an unwavering commitment to quality. “We rarely say no,” Christian adds. “We stand out due to our compliance and offering the latest products that most companies don’t stock, we all have a large range of diversity”
Their fleet spans everything from scissor lifts and compactors to generators, site toilets, and fuel cells – “Pretty much everything available to the market, we have,”.
But no matter what they’re hiring out, three things are non-negotiable: “Quality, safety and compliance – they’re the big ticks for us.”
Trailers That Go the Distance
With jobs scattered across remote and urban locations, Pacific Hire’s gear often needs to move fast. That’s where trailers come in – and since 2012, SureWeld has been their go-to supplier.
“Great” is how Christian simply describes SureWeld’s service. “We literally have 2 trailers in the fleet that are not from SureWeld, as they’re a custom build. All our other units are SureWeld – 99.99%.”
With a location just down the road in Wangaratta, SureWeld was a natural fit – but proximity is only part of the story.
“The fact that I can ring, order parts, collect locally, and speak with Gareth directly – for the last 10 years, I have not felt any different from the first day I started dealing with SureWeld myself.”
Lightweight, Compliant, and Ready to Tow
Pacific Hire currently uses SureWeld’s SW2000 and SW2600 Aluminium Plant Trailers across their fleet – hauling everything from rollers and bobcats to excavators, scissor lifts, fuel cells and generators.
How do they perform in the field?
“Great – lightweight, robust and simple to use,” says Christian. He also points to one key advantage: “The uniformity across the range” makes training and maintenance easier for the team, while simplifying use for customers of all skill levels.
The SW2600’s mechanical brakes are another bonus. With no need for electric brake controllers in their tow vehicles, clients can hitch up and tow safely and easily without requiring a specific vehicle. It’s a practical solution for a hire company working with everyone from homeowners to multinational construction crews.
The benefits of SureWeld Trailers for a hire company don’t stop their Pacific Hire has also taken full advantage of SureWeld’s colour customisation options, kitting out their trailer fleet with signature deep yellow mudguards that reflect their brand across job sites and depots.
For Christian, aftersales support is another SureWeld standout “I can ring order parts, collect locally”. With spare parts readily available, SureWeld helps get trailers back on the road fast – essential for a hire business that relies on quality gear being available whenever customers need it.
Australian-Made and Proud of It
Australian Made products – and buying local – are important to Pacific Hire.
With SureWeld, they get both: local service and locally made trailers that hold up to daily use in high-demand environments.
This helps Pacific Hire deliver “right equipment for any job, no matter the location, size, or complexity of the project.”
More Than Just Equipment
For Pacific Hire, staying ahead means being responsive – to customer needs, to project timelines, and to the expectations of a changing industry. Their strength lies in their people and their customers, prioritising teamwork, trust, and long-term relationships – values that have kept them thriving for over 40 years.
And with Trailers that tick the boxes for safety, durability and simplicity, SureWeld continues to play a key role in keeping Pacific Hire’s promise to clients: ensuring top-tier solutions tailored to every client’s needs.
