If your project needs light towers for two years or less, nine times out of ten, we’ll tell you to rent. But if you’re planning a major construction, pipeline, mining or oil and gas project that’s going to run for two years or more, the conversation will be different. In cases like this, purchasing your light towers usually makes way more financial sense. But it’s not just about comparing rental rates against the purchase price – but what that equipment is likely to cost you to operate over the life of your project. That means considering: Fuel Maintenance Servicing Mechanic time As we all know, these costs add up quickly on a large site. At Axiom, we always get started by looking into how your project operates and analysing where purchasing the right equipment can help reduce your costs. So, when should you consider buying rather than renting? Let’s take a look. When Does It Make Sense to Buy Light Towers Rather Than Rent? The first thing our team will look at is how long your project’s expected to run. As a general rule, here’s how we approach it like this: Project Duration Our Recommendation Under 2 years Renting is generally the better option Around 2–2.5 years It’s worth evaluating the financial case for purchasing Longer-term projects Purchasing becomes increasingly attractive, depending on equipment requirements and operating costs Heads up, our team thinks renting absolutely has its place. And we’ll always be honest with you. On shorter projects, renting gives you access to the equipment you need without the upfront investment or longer-term ownership responsibilities. No-brainer. But when you’re looking at light towers operating across a major site for two years or more, the numbers start to favour purchasing. And that’s when we’d encourage you to look beyond the initial equipment cost. Why Purchasing Light Towers Can Save Money on Long-Term Projects Say you’re managing a large infrastructure project that needs lighting and temporary power across multiple areas. You might have dozens, or even hundreds, of units operating throughout the site. Over a couple of years, you’re not just paying for that equipment available: you’re also Dealing with fuel deliveries Servicing Maintenance schedules The labour costs required to keep everything running Purchasing gives you the opportunity to choose equipment specifically for how your site operates. This can look like using electric light towers where shore power is available, hybrid units to reduce diesel engine runtime, or combination lighting and power units to avoid running two separate pieces of equipment. It’s not necessarily about getting rid of diesel altogether – just using it where it makes sense and finding more efficient options where they can do the job. And when you apply that across a large project, there’s potential to make big savings. What Happens When Your Project Goes Longer Than Expected? This is something we see fairly often. A customer starts a project expecting it to last a certain amount of time, so renting makes sense. Then the project’s awarded a second phase. Or the schedule gets extended. Suddenly, equipment that was originally needed for a short period might be staying on site for another year or two. This is when the conversation changes. Around 30–40% of our customers make the switch from renting to purchasing, often because their project has grown or is running longer than originally anticipated. Our advice would always be to reassess the numbers rather than just carrying on with the same rental arrangement. These are the questions we’d work through before making a recommendation: How much longer will the equipment be needed? What are the ongoing operating costs? Could a different equipment setup reduce fuel consumption or maintenance? It’s All About Buying the Right Light Towers One of the biggest opportunities for savings comes from looking at how equipment is being used across your site. A project might have plenty of light towers and generators, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s using the most efficient combination. Sometimes fewer units can do the same job. Changing the power source can make a difference too. Often, a combination unit can replace two separate pieces of equipment. Here are two examples of how we’ve worked with major projects to identify those opportunities. Project Spotlight: Exploring US$1.7 Million in Savings on a Texas LNG Project A global engineering and construction company was looking for a more efficient way to manage lighting and power on a major LNG project in Texas. The project was facing high operating costs from traditional lighting equipment, along with inefficiencies in how power was distributed across the site. Rather than just recommending replacement units, our team visited the site to understand how the equipment was being used. From there, we developed a site-specific approach that looked at reducing the number of conventional light towers, improving power distribution and using a more efficient mix of diesel, hybrid and electric equipment. The potential result? More than US$1.7 million in projected savings through reduced fuel consumption, labour and equipment requirements. The customer carried out a trial to validate this approach before considering a wider rollout involving more than 140 light towers. Our team also went on site to provide training to help the project team get familiar with the equipment. Project Spotlight: Reducing Equipment Count on a Missouri Data Centre Project On another major project in Missouri, we supported a confidential data centre client with a more efficient approach to temporary lighting and power. Large projects often have multiple temporary facilities, including office trailers, security trailers and restrooms. These all need reliable power – the surrounding areas need lighting, too. Traditionally, that can mean running a generator alongside a separate light tower. But across a large site, that’s a lot of equipment to fuel, service and maintain. Our solution was supplying a combination of DLT-18 units, HLT-6200 Hybrid Light Towers and EDLT units, using combination lighting and power configurations where appropriate. By using equipment that could provide lighting and power, the project reduced the number of separate units required, which meant; Fewer engines to run Fewer service points to maintain Less mechanic time on routine servicing The setup was projected to deliver up to US$1.4 million in savings through reduced fuel consumption, maintenance, equipment acquisition and operating costs. It’s a good example of why purchasing decisions should start with what the site actually needs, rather than simply ordering equipment based on what’s worked in the past. Who Services the Light Towers Once You’ve Bought Them? This is one of the first questions customers ask us. When you’re used to renting equipment, purchasing can raise questions about who’s responsible for maintenance and servicing. On major construction and industrial projects, there’s often already a third-party service provider responsible for maintaining equipment across the site. But we can also work alongside that provider to help them understand the equipment and its maintenance requirements. Our focus is on helping customers select and purchase the right equipment, rather than taking over their day-to-day servicing – but purchasing doesn’t necessarily mean having to build a whole new maintenance operation. It’s about making sure there’s a clear plan for looking after the equipment once it arrives. What About Training? Bringing new equipment onto a busy site needs to be straightforward, which is why we can provide training when the equipment is delivered, helping your team understand how to operate it and get the most from the setup. We can also deliver training through our virtual demonstration platform, which is useful when teams are spread across different locations. Whether your project is introducing hybrid light towers for the first time or switching to a new lighting and power configuration, the goal is to make the transition as easy as possible. The Bottom Line: Start With the Project, Not the Purchase Price Renting and purchasing both have their place. If your project is relatively short, renting will often be the more practical choice. But if you’re planning a major project lasting two years or more, or an existing project has been extended, it’s worth looking at whether purchasing could save you money. And don’t just compare rental rates against equipment prices. Look at the full picture: fuel consumption, maintenance, engine runtime, equipment count and the cost of keeping everything running over the life of the project. Because the biggest savings often come from choosing the right equipment in the first place. At Axiom, it’s where we start. Frequently Asked Questions About Renting vs Buying Light Towers When does it make sense to buy light towers rather than rent? As a general rule, we’d recommend renting for projects lasting less than two years. For projects expected to run for around 2–2.5 years or longer, purchasing is worth considering. The final decision depends on equipment requirements, operating costs and the expected project duration. Why can purchasing light towers save money on long-term projects? Purchasing allows you to select equipment specifically for your site. Over a longer project, more efficient lighting and power configurations can reduce fuel consumption, maintenance, engine runtime and the number of units required. What if my project gets extended while I’m renting equipment? That’s a good time to reassess. If a second phase is awarded or the project timeline increases, purchasing may become more cost-effective than continuing to rent. We’d recommend reviewing the remaining project duration and total equipment costs before making the switch. Can the right light tower setup really make that much difference? Yes. On major projects, the number and type of units can have a significant impact on operating costs. We’ve helped customers identify opportunities for substantial projected savings by combining lighting and power, reducing unnecessary equipment and using diesel, hybrid and electric units where they make the most sense. Who handles servicing if we purchase light towers from Axiom? On major projects, maintenance is often handled by an existing third-party service provider. Axiom can work with that provider to help them understand the equipment and its servicing requirements. Does Axiom provide light tower training? Yes. We can provide training when equipment is delivered to site or through our virtual demonstration platform, helping your team become familiar with the equipment and its operation. How do I know if purchasing is right for my next project? Start with the expected project duration, the amount of equipment required and how it will be used. If you’re looking at a project lasting two years or more, speak to our team. We can review your requirements and help you assess whether purchasing makes financial sense. Planning a Long-Term Project? Let’s Talk Light Towers. If you’re preparing for a major construction, pipeline, mining or energy project, or an existing project has been extended, it might be time to revisit your equipment costs. We’ll look at how your site operates, what equipment you need and where there’s an opportunity to reduce costs over the life of the project. Talk to the Axiom Team