24.07.07
On time and on track with mini crawler cranes
In spaces where access is limited and height is an issue, Maeda mini crawler cranes are helping rail maintenance specialists IMS Ltd stay on the right side of the tracks.
Gary Wainwright, director of IMS says: “These Maedas are a great bit of kit that enables us and Network Rail staff to complete maintenance work effectively and quickly”.
Access to trackside maintenance is often restricted. The mini crawler crane can be tracked into place through a gap as narrow as a standard door and travels well over all manner of terrain. Set up is straightforward and fast allowing maintenance work to be completed without complicated arrangements which, in the past, could have meant taking lines out of service. The Maeda’s compact design also makes it ideal for working in areas where high voltage cables are often just 12’ overhead.
Maeda mini crawler cranes also comply with stringent health and safety regulations. IMS has already successfully used the Maedas for replacement and maintenance on circuit breakers and removal of bushings on sub station roofs.
“We’ve only scratched the surface so far, but with the complex issues of health and safety that surround the work we undertake on the railways and because maintenance is often carried out in small spaces, this machine is already proving to be invaluable piece of equipment,” says Gary.
The Maeda range provides the ideal solution to heavy lifting in tight places and is already a firm favourite on modern building sites. The Maeda range includes four spider type crawler cranes with capacities from 1 tonne to 3.8 tonne and with lifting heights up to 16.8 metres. Maeda's tracked crawler crane, the LC785, has a maximum lifting capacity of 4.9 tonnes and a lifting height of 16.35 metres. Each mini crawler crane delivers a capacity and reach equivalent to a much larger crane and can be used for both interior and exterior areas.
Kranlyft, the European distributor for Maeda, offers a range of hire and purchase options and has a rapid response network set up to cover the UK. Sales director Terry Marnock says: “The Maeda has an excellent record of reliability and safety. In our view, it is the most flexible and effective mini crawler available”.
To help operatives get the most effective and efficient use from the Maeda, Kranlyft provides a full training programme. Training can take place at Kranlyft’s purpose designed Avonmouth depot, as well as onsite.
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