1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136 
STACK AND GRAB
Page 120
Page 121
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
II Today the UK lorry loader market is covered by a large number of companies and with few exceptions, most lorry loaders sold here are imported, either from Italy, Germany, Austria or Scandinavia.
The companies listed here represent the majority of firms importing or manufacturing lorry loaders — undoubtedly there are others.
The UK market for lorry loaders is growing due to operators' continuing search for even greater vehicle productivity and manufacturers are experiencing demand right through the spectrum. This growth is being fuelled by manufacturers rapidity in developing new products to meet changing demands.
HMF, through its wholly owned UK subsidiary HMF Truck Equipment, has extended its range to offer a wide choice of loaders to suit chassis in every weight range. To extend its already comprehensive light loader range, the company has just launched the 250-K Series. This unit combines an ability to fully fold, for minimum transit space with a hydraulic boom reach of 4.4 metres, power slewing and other larger crane features on a light unit designed for small trucks.
The company is also introducing the Power Plus boom feature on many of its larger models. This consists of a double link arrangement in the boom — which keeps the leverage distance constant when working close to the main loader upright, or at high levels, so that lifting capacity is not lost.
Catering for the heavier end of the loader market is Pesci. In the UK these loaders, in the eight to 40 tonnes/metre range, are handled by Welford Truck Bodies. They are primarily designed for the construction industry and other specialist applications, where heavy lift ability is required. To ensure these heavy-duty lorry loader packages are correctly used, Welford includes free operator training— normally on the user's premises— as part of its Pesci sales package.
A relatively new name on the lorry loader scene is Viper International. This company expanded into a large new factory at Cookstown, N. Ireland last year. Viper makes its own small lorry loaders in the 0.3 to two tonne/metre sector, above this in the 3.5 to 65 tonne/ metre range the company builds units under licence from German manufacturer MKG.
Making a reappearance on the UK market is HAP, now owned by an Italian company, this manufacturer also has a new UK importer, Kerrby (Plant). Kerrby is now in the process of rebuilding the HAP distributor network in the UK, for a crane range which covers the three to 42 tonne/metre range.
Atlas claims to be the largest UK manufacturer of lorry loaders. Its wide range has just been expanded with the new, compact three tonne/metre 30.1 unit. This machine, due to its compact size and low weight, is particularly suitable for smaller trucks.
Also new in the Atlas range are a number of new attachments, including a bottle bank handling and discharge device and a wallboard fork. The company has also just announced an extended warranty package. This allows customers to extend the standard 12 month warranty by a further two years.
Trico, which is part of the same Swedish Partek group that also owns Hiab, is now in the process of making a major push into the UK. It offers a comprehensive 10-model range and is expanding its UK distributor network. As part of this sales expansion, it has also developed Total Care, a new after sales maintenance and repair system.
Palfinger has two UK importers. In Scotland the range is handled by James Jones & Sons of Lambert while distribution in England and Wales is through T H White (Devizes). In addition to Palfinger, Jones also imports the specialist Loglift timber handling range. Also this company manufactures the Highland Bear timber handling lorry loader. White is also the UK importer for Epsilon timber cranes which cover the 7.7 to 25 tonne/ metre sector.
Hiab, one of the biggest selling lorry loaders in the UK, has just introduced a new generation of light duty units, the 015, 020 and 025. Hiab reckons that the 015 model is one of the most compact 1.5 tonne/metre cranes available. This unit is also available with remote control. The 020 is the smallest knuckle-boom loader in the Hiab range while the 025 is available with an electro/hydraulic power pack.
Further up the range the company has upgraded its 070 model, to become the 071. This 7.5 tonne/metre machine offers the benefit of very low weight. Also upgraded is the 090, both it and the 071 have gained a number of premium engineering features. The extensive Hiab range goes up to the 26 tonne/metre 260 model.
For the very lightest commercial vehicle the Lucas Swinglift is designed for installation in everything from a carderived van or pickup through to small trucks. The Swinglift can be easily dismounted and fitted into other vehicles for maximum utilisation, the smallest model can be easily carried by one man.
Ferrari, a name better known for fast Italian cars, is also applied to the lorry loaders handled by NCS. This company offers one to 25 tonne/metre units. To produce matched vehicle, loader and body packages NCS can build a body to suit the operator's requirements, match it and mount a suitable Ferrari loader.
Since 1988, the massive Cormach lorry loader range, which covers the two to 87 tonne/metre spectrum is handled in this country by Colchester Tillage. This company has over 30 years' experience in the UK loader market and uses this expertise to engineer solutions to specialist lifting requirements.
Aim Hydraulics specialises in lighter lorry loaders. It offers a range of equipment, designed both for panel vans and smaller trucks. The company manufactures its Vanlift and Dualift in the UK.
Illegally parked motorists in London and many other big cities may have had cause to curse the abilities of Amco Veba lorry loaders. Handled in the UK by Gil[bridge Equipment, this range majors on car handling cranes. These are used by the Metropolitan Police vehicle removal unit, among others.
APA Hydraulics, a small Longtonbased company, has gained extensive lorry loader experience. This has been used to tailor a specialist range of sophisticated hydraulic brick grabs, clam shell buckets, scrap grabs and other attachments for lorry loaders. The company has also developed the Roll Loader. This can be fitted to most makes of lorry loader. It consists of a base unit, located in flanges along the trailer/body side raves. Four heavy duty rollers in the base, driven by two hydraulic motors, allow the lorry loader to work up and down the load bed. The Roll Loader also allows the crane to be used on other trailers.
Two things set the lorry loader range handled by Tony Burns Machinery apart from others in the market. One is the name, Bonfiglioli and the other is the range which extends from one to a massive 150 tonne/metre. The range includes container handling models.