For a UK-based manufacturer of plastic pipe systems, flexibility is essential when handling large-section pipework and the customised angle and bend connections required by end customers. To support final assembly operations, Hoist & Winch Ltd has supplied and commissioned a turnkey package of eight aluminium mobile gantry cranes offering 2-ton safe working load (Swl), each equipped with a 110V single-phase electric chain hoist.
The equipment is installed in a dedicated section of the manufacturer's final assembly area, where pipe sections – used to protect electrical cables – are fitted with angle and bend connections.
The company supplies customers across a wide range of industries, including the growing datacentre sector. Flexibility was therefore a key consideration in the specification. Manufactured by Reid Lifting, the aluminium mobile gantries supplied by Hoist & Winch feature adjustable height and span width, allowing the configuration of each crane to suit the available workspace and the dimensions of the pipes that require handling.
With a maximum working hook height of 6 metres and bridge span of 4 metres, the cranes provide sufficient capacity and reach for the largest pipe sections currently processed by the company. They also offer an element of future-proofing should the manufacturer introduce larger sections.
Mobility is another critical feature. Each gantry features large pneumatic-tyred wheels, making the cranes easier to manoeuvre while improving stability when travelling under load. This capability is particularly useful when moving across raised cable ramps or small floor imperfections.
The four wheels incorporate 360-degree swivel action with directional locking at 90-degree intervals, providing operators with further flexibility when positioning the gantries. Once correctly positioned over the workstation assembly jigs, manually operated heavy-duty parking brakes securely hold each crane in place. Here, the lifting systems play a vital role in the assembly process, safely supporting pipe sections while angle or bend connections are fitted and adhesives are allowed to cure.
“It's a deceptively demanding application because the lifting equipment needs to combine substantial capacity with the freedom to move around the assembly area,” explains Hoist & Winch Director Andy Allen. “The aluminium gantries give the customer that flexibility, while the 2-ton Swl hoists offer the reliable lifting performance needed for these large and varied pipe sections.”
To provide effective and electrically safe lifting within the assembly environment, Hoist & Winch installed heavy-duty 2-ton Swl Yale/Loadstar 110V single-phase electric chain hoists. The low-voltage supply is particularly appropriate because the gantries require powering via a trailing floor cable as the company moves them between workstations. Hoist and pendant control cables are managed across each crane bridge using a taut-wire festoon catenary system, helping to maintain orderly cable routing while allowing the hoists to travel along the bridge.
Following installation, Hoist & Winch completed LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) inspection and testing of each complete lifting system and issued the appropriate LOLER Thorough Examination reports, providing complete peace of mind for the customer.
On-site operator training covered equipment functionality, hoist components and operating controls, including top and bottom limit switches and emergency-stop functions. Training also addressed periodic checks and lubrication, together with annual inspection, servicing and certification requirements. Each operator was given practical experience in using the equipment, ensuring safe and effective operation of the new lifting systems from day one.
Visit www.hoistandwinch.co.uk for further information and to view recent case studies.
