Project Background
Pinnacle Hire, a national hire provider specialising in pumps, needed a fit-for-purpose drive unit that could go further, last longer, and integrate more cleanly into their operational workflows. The OEM engine on their existing setup offered just two hours of continuous runtime, not enough for remote sites or prolonged daily use. Site feedback also highlighted other practical issues: lost ignition keys, non-compliance with mine specs, and inconsistent branding across units.
To streamline site readiness and reduce manual workarounds, Pinnacle Hire turned to Crommelins for a custom solution that would tick every box: longer runtime, keyless ignition, minespec safety, and a branded finish built to fleet standards.
The Problem
Pinnacle Hire needed a solution that solved multiple challenges in one platform:
- Extended runtime: The standard OEM engine provided just two hours of operation, which didn’t meet the needs of crews working in remote or high-demand environments.
- Keyless start: Traditional ignition keys were frequently lost on site or misplaced between depots.
- Minespec compliance: Equipment had to meet site safety requirements from day one.
- Brand consistency: Pinnacle Hire required each unit to be painted in their corporate colours, complete with logos and asset plates.
They needed a complete rethink, not just a minor tweak to an existing machine.
The Solution
Crommelins approached the challenge from the ground up, engineering a tailored version of the DU47YDEM Drive Unit to align with Pinnacle’s operational, safety and branding requirements.
Starting with the frame and fuel tank, Crommelins built a new layout that could hold significantly more fuel, increasing total runtime well beyond the original two-hour limit. This allowed the unit to operate continuously throughout the workday without interruption or refuelling downtime.
A keyless start system was integrated into the ignition design, eliminating the risk of lost keys and simplifying operation across worksites.
Every unit was delivered minespec-compliant from the factory, ensuring site readiness without retrofitting.
Finally, the full unit was painted in Pinnacle’s corporate colours and finished with permanent logos and asset plates, ensuring brand alignment and traceability across the national fleet.
The Results
The final result was a fully integrated, fleet-ready drive unit built specifically for the realities of national hire:
- Longer runtime with a larger fuel tank designed for full-shift operation
- No keys required, simplified operation and fewer lost-time incidents
- Minespec ready from day one
- Brand-consistent finish with Pinnacle’s colours, logos, and asset plates
Following the first deployment, Pinnacle were impressed with the build quality and practicality of the units, and promptly placed a follow-up order.
Why It Worked
This project worked because Crommelins listened to the operational pain points and rebuilt the machine to solve them all in one go. Rather than patching over issues, we redesigned the unit around real fleet needs: reliability, site-readiness, and ease of use.
Crommelins’ in-house engineering team worked directly on the frame and tank design, giving them control over critical elements like layout, compliance and usability. The result was a cleaner, smarter machine that’s now part of Pinnacle’s national rollout.
Lessons for Other Hire Businesses
When you’re managing a national hire fleet, runtime and simplicity matter. If an operator can’t start the machine, or it runs out of fuel mid-task, productivity drops, and so does client satisfaction.
Whether you need a drive unit, compactor, pump, or generator, Crommelins builds hire-ready equipment around how your team works. We don’t just ship machinery, we deliver engineered outcomes tailored to your site conditions, shift requirements and fleet branding.
