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Hooked ss
Page 60
Page 61
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Historically HMF has hidden its light under a bushel but, as director Andy Rigby tells us,
that's all changing...
Athree-year business plan to project it three places up the market rankings; scheduled increases to its service network; and a product strategy which will take the company into many UK sectors where it is currently dormant. These are just a few of the points on Andy Rigby's to-do list at present. The UK director for HMF cranes is spearheading a major assault on the UK sector by the Danish-owned company.
"There are always rumours circulating in this business of ours and we've come in for our fair share of speculation," Rigby explains. "But HMF is very alive in the UK. We've got a major investment plan in place, we're recruiting new staff and are clearly focused on delivering products to suit the needs of current and prospective customers: HMF is confident that its user base tends to he pretty happy but Rigby's not sitting hack: "Aftersales support is critical in the road transport business," he says. "We're working hard to ensure our traditionally high levels of service are maintained as we gow the business. The factory in Denmark has made a commitment to ensure next-day delivery of parts and we're expanding our team of nationwide service agents."
HMF has committed to the market that it will guarantee the delivery time of any product. A significant pledge, given that lead times can run to 13 weeks at busy times of the year, but one that HMF is prepared to stand by: "Operators can have full confidence that whatever happens they know they're not going to get hit by late deliveries," Rigby adds.
HMI; which stands for Hojbjerg IVIaskinfabrik (1 Iojbjerg metal factory' in Danish) has its HQ in Denmark. HMF UK is a wholly owned subsidiary with a £5m turnover, but it's by no means the biggest in the family-owned concern. HMF also owns its German subsidiary and has dealers throughout Europe and in the USA.
Here HMF is synonymous with lorry mounted cranes, but the company also handles tail-lifts and general bodywork. "The director for exports is keen we develop our product offering in the UK," Rigby says. "But we've got plenty of potential to realise yet in lorry mounted cranes without adding to the line-up."
The truck mounted crane offering from HMF is extensive, covering everything from 05t/tn to 72t/m loaders. The company has recently added two new machines to the line-up: a 2.0t/m and a 3.0t/m crane — the HMF270 and HMF340— aimed at the 7.5-tonne GVVV truck sector. "Our major market success has traditionally been further up the weight scale," adds Rigby. "These new cranes have an excellent power to weight ratio and are a cost-effective, lightweight solution."
Next year a new range of 12,13 and 15t/ni cranes will arrive in the UK. Prototype factory testing has finished in Denmark and operator trials are underway.This sector accounts for 60% of I-IMF's business and the new doublereach, faster cranes should strengthen this. Topping the range arc the 50t/m and 70t/m cranes, Odin and Thor.
Health and safety legislation is a key concern in this sector of the business and HMF has been quick to react to demand. Its EVS (electronic vehicle stability) system monitors the stability of the vehicle and, in a hazardous situation, it will prevent the crane being operated in a dangerous manner.
"Future legislation will dictate that all truck mounted cranes be equipped with stabiliser interlocks. Our EVS satisfies that requirement already," claims Rigby.
HMF offers full in-house training on its equipment and is keen to advise on specilication."That way the operator specifies precisely the right piece of kit, with the right lifting capacity and safety features for the application." says Rigby. "Investing a little time at the beginning of the process will save time, resources and, in the most extreme case, lives." •