In a strategic move underscoring Brisbane Airport's status as a premier industrial hub, United Rentals has secured a landmark 15-year lease, marking the beginning of a transformative era for the company.

Armed with a lengthy wish list of site specifications and inclusions, the global brand looked to Brisbane Airport’s thriving development precinct to find a new home.

The 37,203 sqm allotment will house a 14,000 sqm concrete-topped container yard – large enough to accommodate more than 1,000 shipping containers – a 6,835 sqm workshop and 600 sqm of office space.

Brisbane Airport’s Head of Industrial Property and Logistics Todd Perry welcomed United Rentals to the precinct.

“United Rentals and the Royal Wolf Australia brand are market leaders with a strong vision for the future,” Mr Perry said.

“Sustainability is one of the company’s core values that clearly aligns with Brisbane Airport’s commitment to deliver positive and sustainable outcomes.

“United Rentals is welcoming of the environmental credentials to the new hub. These include 5 Star Green Star-targeted design principles and sustainable development practices such as solar energy, rainwater harvesting, electric vehicle charging units, and low-carbon products and materials.”

“There are obvious parallels between their continued growth and the growth of Brisbane Airport’s industrial precinct so there’s a natural synergy in welcoming Royal Wolf to Brisbane Airport.

In July 2024, United Rentals acquired Royal Wolf Australia which is the market leader and industry specialist in designing, hiring, selling and modifying new and refurbished shipping containers.

United Rentals Australasia Regional Vice-President Neil Littlewood said this new facility would be the company’s largest greenfield development in Australia and its first purpose-built, United Rentals-branded building, signaling an evolution away from the Royal Wolf brand.

It will consolidate the company’s two existing Brisbane sites at Banyo and is expected to be fully operational by Q3 2025.

Mr Littlewood said the Brisbane Airport site met every criterion on United Rentals’ comprehensive wish list.

“From a practical perspective, there was readily available land in a location that we know was still growing and will allow us to tap into the medium-term opportunities of the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics,” he said

“We can minimise disruption to our 40-plus staff in our existing two locations and there are the economics of not having to relocate large distances and of being able to service customers from this connected location.

“Finally, the site being owned by the Brisbane Airport itself was appealing as the approval and development processes are streamlined.”

The new facility will be one of United Rental’s flagship hub sites that service smaller locations and carry a greater range of products, making its proximity to arterial roads, such as the Gateway and Pacific Motorways, a key consideration.

The hub site will also bring together the company’s manufacturing and engineering capabilities with its rental arm, consolidating services, streamlining operations and building business efficiencies in the process.

Brisbane Airport is among Australia’s most well-connected commercial and industrial precincts and with a $2.3 billion property portfolio the precinct boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure tailored for large-scale industrial and logistics operations.

2025 marks 100 years of Brisbane Airport’s growth from a tiny aerodrome in Eagle Farm to one of the world's best airports located on Moreton Bay.

On January 1, Brisbane Airport Corporation announced it had achieved Net Zero emission (Scope 1 and 2), with 100% renewable backed energy now in use.

With more than $5 billion of investment planned—in a third passenger terminal, major refurbishments to existing terminals, the region’s best connected commercial land, and much more—Brisbane Airport is truly connecting the world and creating the future. 

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