Product of the Month – Maeda MC815 mini crane

To be a mini crane or not to be a mini crane? That is the question. To put it in a less Shakespearian way, can a mini crane be too big for its boots?

Our Product of The Month for July is the Maeda MC815. It is the largest mini crane ever built by Maeda. So, if we were to get philosophical about mini cranes, it would be the subject of the debate.

The other way to look at the question is this: if it looks like a mini crane, it lifts like a mini crane, it’s a duck.

There is no doubt mini cranes are meant to be small cranes, they’re also mostly compact cranes. But when it comes to performance, we believe Maeda mii cranes are in a league of their own.

Size does matter

Let’s get the question of size out of the way about the MC815. Yes, it’s a big mini crane (dare we suggest a new term, midi crane? Remember, if it catches on, you heard it here first).

But it’s not THAT much bigger than the smallest crane in the Hird Maeda mini crane hire fleet. The Maeda MC174 mini crane can lift 1.72 tonnes, which is 4.65 times less than the maximum safe lifting weight (SWL) of the Maeda MC815 – at 8 tonnes.

Yet, the larger crane is 5900mm long, just 2.95 times the length of the MC174 mini crane, and at a measly 1670mm wide (that’s less than a Mini Clubman at 1800mm wide), it is just 2.8 times as wide as the MC174 mini crane.

See where we’re going with this? The Maeda MC815 mini crane is a mighty bit of kit, but it still punches above its weight. Which could easily be incorporates in a definition for mini cranes.

Meeting growing demand

As a Product of the Month feature, we like to wax a little about the features of the Maeda MC815.

First, just to say, this is one of Maeda’s newest mini cranes. And Hird was the first customer in the world to place an order for one of the machines.

There is a little bit of an arms race in the mini crane market right now. And, as a market leader, Maeda aims to stay out in front.

Our hire customers, like many across the world, are realising that mini cranes can occupy a growing amount of space in the centre of the lifting hierarchy, as the best solution for many lifting projects.

For many projects, they are replacing larger mobile cranes, which are more expensive to hire, deliver less flexibility, and cannot operate in confined spaces.

For smaller lifts, they also sweep away a hodgepodge of often less desirable and less safe solutions, such as forklift trucks, telehandlers, or brute manual handling force.

So, the MC815 is a key response by Maeda to growing demand for larger mini cranes for lifting projects that include machinery installation, factory maintenance, steel erection, and curtain wall construction.

Maeda MC815C – the nitty gritty

So, what is it about the MC815 that makes it such a capable mini crane?

Mini crane hire – just got easier

The Maeda MC815 extends the options for using a mini crane for many lifting projects. It eats into the justification and need for hiring a mobile crane.

Lifts can be made simpler, with reduced impact on surrounding activity. For lifting operations in a busy factory environment, for example, where continuous production is essential, this is a major benefit.

What is more, unlike old Bill Shakespeare, the Maeda MC815 will not make a drama out of a lifting job that needs to be carried out safely and efficiently.

For more information about mini crane hire options, including our Product of the Month for July, call Hird today.

All our equipment is available across the UK, via our three operational centres.

We can also carry out accredited mini crane operator training, and supply a wide range of lifting accessories for hire or for sale.

Email: [email protected]