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The UK lorry-loader market is dominated by four players: Atlas, Palfinger, HMF and Hiab. Keenly priced, mainly Italian-made cranes also compete for sales, with Cormach, Fassi, Pesci and PM as the main contenders.
HMF UK, the UK subsidiary of Danish manufacturer Hojbjerg Maslcinfabrik, believes it is now in third place in the UK market behind Atlas and Palfinger, having overtaken Hiab, the crane maker that is part of the Swedish Partec Cargotek group. HMF reports sales up 30% in the year to June 2000.
Hiab's David Gardner says the company has been concentrating on revamping its aftersales support network—it has ambitious sales growth plans for the next year.
Since r October 1998 all UK trucks first used after I April 1993 have been required to have heightwarning devices fitted to ensure the crane is properly stowed during transit. Now there are discus
sions about whether the same sensing unit should also monitor correct stowing of the stabiliser legs. Although legs do have pinlocks, there has been a fatal accident where this was not engaged properly and the legs swung out during transit, killing one person and injuring two others.
The Association of Lorry Loader Manufacturers and Importers has published a new edition of its comprehensive code of practice. The advice now incorporates changes in design and working practices resulting from the Supply of
Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992. Grab cranes were particularly affected by the changes to safety legislation. Operators have had to uprate cranes used on these operations because the widespread practice of temporarily over
loading the crane became technically impossible.
Crane manufacturers are increasingly immersing king-post bearings and slew mechanisms in an oil bath to reduce friction. HMF was one of the first to introduce this system with its planetary-gear motorised slew on 2300 and 2820 cranes.
Other trends include the enclosure of hoses within columns of guide rails for better protection; and more in-line booms to reduce
torsional stress. Finite element analysis is now widely used to eliminate material where it is not needed and to reinforce the areas of greatest stress.