Product of the Month 2020 Roundup

With 2021 hurtling towards us the PoTM desk at Hird is presenting its end of year review of the machines and equipment we have showcased over the last 12 months.

As you would expect, they are widely varied, given the comprehensive service Hird provides for mini crane lifting, working at height, glass lifting, mobile crane lifting and all things in between.

January – Maeda MC285-3 mini spider crane

We began 2020 with a review of one of Hird’s newest mini cranes. The latest version of the Maeda MC285 has a full colour digital screen that allows operatives to better control this very impressive spider crane.
It has a maximum safe working load of 2.82t, a maximum tip height of 8.7m and a maximum working radius of 8.2m. It is also bi-energy, with a diesel engine plus an electric motor, which can be detached to reduce weight or position the crane in confined spaces.

February – Valla 22E with fly jib

For our second Product of the Month for 2020 we gave preconceived notions of what a Valla pick and carry crane call the chop. And we took our inspiration from martial arts supremo Bruce Lee whose mantra was “No Limits”.

With a maximum SLW of 2.25t, a maximum tip height of 5.3m and a maximum radius of 3.5m, the electric battery powered Valla 25E is a go anywhere and do anything mini lifting power house. It can be used indoors and, like Bruce Lee, take on multiple challenges.

March – Hinowa Lightlift 26.14 Performance IIIS

This tracked spider platform is hugely versatile. It is ideal for construction, building maintenance, lighting and tree management. Which is why it also did a very good job of being our Product of the Month for March.

The Hinowa LL 26.14 has a maximum working height of 25.7m, a working outreach of 13.73m and an unrestricted basket capacity of 230kg. With a travel width of just 990mm, it can get to places other boom lifts just cannot.

April – Niftylift HeightRider 21 4×4

Let them eat cake. While operating a Niftylift HR 21 4×4. Our Product of the Month for May allows our clients to be work at height sustainably, which is good for the client and the planet and it can be hired from Hird, the cherry on top.

The Niftylift HR 21 All Wheel Drive (AWD) is a rough terrain hybrid cherry picker. So it can run on diesel or electric power or a combination of the both, whichever is best. In principle, this means it can be operated 24/7. But we all need a break. To eat cake.

May – Plate glass trolleys

Hird can provide you with some of the most sophisticated glass lifting devices into the world. We can also hire out our Product of the Month for May – plate glass trolleys.

Plate glass trolleys may look simple but they do a very important job and some are fancier than others. Take our Pannkoke plate glass trolley with a 700kg capacity. It is adjustable for height and length and can carry glass sheets up to 40mm thick. Enough said.

June – Genie GS-4047 electric scissor lift

Off we went to Silverstone Grand Prix circuit for our Product of the Month for June to answer the question, how fast can a Genie GS-4047 go? Well, Genie says, pretty fast. It can raise to full working height of 11.75m in 70 seconds flat.

At that speed, it could get around the Silverstone F1 circuit in 510 hours, or 21 and a smidge days. No wonder Lewis Hamilton romped to the World Championship title. Then again, he is useless at working at height.

July – Liebherr LMT1060 3.1 mobile crane

It is a smart computer that is also very good at lifting. So said crane operator Craig Jessop about the Product of the Month for July. It certainly is a crane with the brain that can lift up to 60t.

The crane, very compact for its capability, is fitted with the latest sensors and VarioBase stabilisation system. They are monitored and controlled from a wireless pad, making lifting faster, more flexible and safer.

August – Minifor TR50 electric hoist

Small is also beautiful, powerful and very useful. Take our Product of the Month for August, the Minifor TR50 electric hoist. It is an important and popular piece of kit in our lifting equipment hire portfolio.

The hoist has a maximum lifting capacity of 500kg yet weighs just 33kg itself, so is easy to carry and install. It is used extensively on construction sites to lift materials and equipment – and can be combined with equipment like our counterbalance floor cranes for glass lifting.

September – Valla 50 pick and carry crane

In September we ventured into the past to evoke the early days of the electric milk float. A great British invention in fact. Of course, we wanted to explain the advantage of the Valla 50E pick and carry crane.

An electric-powered compact industrial crane with a maximum safe working load of 5t, the Valla 50E is just 1.6m wide and 3m long. It also comes with a comfy seat for the crane operator and is ideal for zero-emission environments like aircraft hangers. It is lousy at delivering milk though.

October – Kappel DSKE2 vacuum lifter

It is fast becoming one of our most popular vacuum lifters because it is a bit of a lightweight. The Kappel DSKE2 glass vacuum lifter can lift loads up to 450kg yet can weigh just 45kg or 55kg depending on the format chosen.

Our Product of the Month for October, it is also a strong multi-tasker, with the option of being set up with four or six suction cups. The glass lifter is also highly compact and has a short-eye hook for supporting lifting under overhangs.

November – Genie Z45/25 XC boom lift

When the going gets tough, as Billy Ocean once sang, it is time to work at height from a Genie Z45/25 XC boom lift. In November, this was one of our newest additions to our cherry picker hire fleet.

The Genie Z45/25 XC is as rough terrain boom lift perfectly at home on the most challenging construction sites. A key attribute is an enhanced basket capacity of 454kg, allowing operatives to carry more tools and parts. It gives a maximum working height of 15.9m and maximum outreach of 7.6m.

December – Porta-Gantry

Deceptively simple and extremely useful – our Product of the Month for December was the Hird Porta-Gantry. A very easy and quick to assemble A-frame crane that can lift up to 5,000kg, depending in its configuration.

It’s a lifting technique made famous by Samson and Goliath at Harland and Wolfe shipyard in Belfast – and just as useful for lifting construction materials or as a personnel lift for deep shaft inspections. Using our Porta-Gantry will save time and money and improve safety.

If you like what you see of want to talk about any other lifting challenge you need to overcome in 2021, call the expert and friendly Hird team. We are here to help, operating nationally from our four regional depots.

Happy New Year! Catch up with our next Product of the Month in 2021.

Email: [email protected]