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Product of the Month – Glazing Manipulators

Hird pick and carry cranes pressed into service for factory lift

How MEWPs Are Elevating the Cleaning Industry

Product of the month – Genie Z30/20 NRJ electric boom

urw_094_spider_mini_crane

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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/crane-hire">Crane lifting</a>, <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/powered-access">powered access</a> and <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/glass-lifting">glass lifting</a> hire specialist Hird has taken delivery of the latest addition to its transport fleet.</h2>



The Scania 420P truck with a beavertail transporter has been optimised to support easy delivery and collection of Hird’s equipment, including scissor lifts, boom lifts, spider booms, pick and carry cranes and spider cranes.



Though it is the new kid on the block, joining an already extensive transport fleet, this is a grown-up vehicle with an 8×2 axle configuration supporting the carrying of a wide range of large machines in its&nbsp;hire fleet&nbsp;for tasks that include&nbsp;<a href="https://hird.co.uk/machinery-moving">machinery moving</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/glass-lifting">glass lifting</a>, and working at height from&nbsp;<a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/powered-access">access platforms</a>.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Important part of service promise</h3>



Hird's new transport has been supplied by Sterling Group and is fitted with Sterling’s Easiload beavertail body.



It is perfectly aligned with Hird’s determination to provide hire customers with the safest and most efficient equipment delivery and collection service.



To support this, Hird’s transport fleet is <a href="https://hird.co.uk/accreditations">FORS Gold accredited</a> in the south of England and London, and <a href="https://hird.co.uk/accreditations">FORS Silver accredited</a> across the rest of the country.



Hird Director Phil Hird said: “We provide a total service solution. That includes supplying the best possible cranes, glass lifting machines and access equipment and ensuring it’s delivered on time, precisely where it’s needed, with no fuss.



“Our new Scania 420P beavertail transporter will become an important part of that service promise, not least because of features that support productive, safe and sustainable operation.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://hird.co.uk/backend/assets/uploads/2025/07/Scania-420P-truck-from-Hird-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-32185"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Safety maximised – emissions minimise</h3>



The transporter has a Euro 6 engine, which means it meets the very latest low-emission standards for particulate, NOX and CO2 emissions, contributing to our customers’ pollution and carbon footprint reduction pledges.



It also provides the latest driver comforts, with a sleeper cab, a refrigerator, and internal and external storage compartments.



The truck is fitted with the latest safety features, which maximises safe driving and operation on the road, in Hird depots and on customer worksites.



These include emergency braking indication and vulnerable road user detection on the front, rear and blind-side of the vehicle.



When the transporter is in reverse, the rear-view camera is shown in the centre display, supporting optimum safety when positioning the truck to deliver or collect equipment on worksites.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://hird.co.uk/backend/assets/uploads/2025/07/Load-up-Scania-420P-truck-Hird-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-32186"/></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Efficient loading and unloading</h3>



Extra visibility is provided through the low-level door window, allowing the driver to see into the blind spot, also optimising site operation, which Hird customers appreciate.



The Easiload transporter mesh decking and a double-flip full-width ramp provides extra-shallow loading angles, making the it quicker and easier to load equipment, while equipment stability is maximised.



Meanwhile, cruise control with active prediction (CCAP), developed by Scania, uses GPS to analyse the ahead road topography and perfectly adjust cruising speed, even on unfamiliar roads in darkness.



Investment in the new transporter demonstrates Hird’s commitment to continuously upgrading its HGV fleet to meet its own quality and sustainability standards, while giving its drivers the best equipment – and its customers the best possible service.



Keep an eye out for it on the road!



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Find out more</h3>



Talk to Hird today about the flexibility, safety and productivity advantages of hiring <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/spider-booms/">spider lifts</a> from Hird, which are available across the UK, via our three operational hubs.



Email: <a href="mailto:info@hird.co.uk">info@hird.co.uk</a>





Northern <a href="tel:01482227333">01482 227333</a>





Central <a href="tel:01302341659">01302 341659</a>





Southern <a href="tel:02031740658">0203 174 0658</a>

Hird has a new delivery – and customers receive the benefit

Product of the Month 2024 Roundup

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Once in a while, we take Product of the Month off piste to cover stuff that’s not made of metal and would hurt if it ran over your foot.</h2>



We’re doing it now, because our Product of the Month for April is Hird service.



We think it’s important to remember, every now and then, that a product is not just the kit. It is also the smile on the face (seen or sensed over the phone), the helping hand, and the challenge overcome.



It’s a bit of a journey into the intangible. You can see a robotic glass lifter (as long as it is delivered on time). But service can be less easy to define.



So, here we are talking about elements of service that have a direct impact on our customers. That makes sure the kit is delivered on time, and the customer and their client are happy.



The point is, we can all be tempted by a sales pitch. By a bargain. By something new. Here at Hird, we know, in the world of industrial equipment hire, consistency counts.





<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://hird.co.uk/assets/uploads/2024/04/Hird-Service-POTM-1024x942.jpg" alt="Hird Service - POTM" class="wp-image-29739"/></figure>









<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Hird service expertise</h2>



For us, that consistency starts with expertise.



Hird has been hiring out <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/mini-cranes">mini cranes</a>, <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/powered-access">access platforms</a>, <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/trolleys-and-accessories">material moving equipment</a>, and <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/glass-lifting">glass lifting equipment</a> for a long time (Hird is no fly-by-night).





<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/mini-cranes"><img src="https://hird.co.uk/assets/uploads/2024/04/mini-cranes.jpg" alt="mini cranes" class="wp-image-29733"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/mini-cranes">Mini Cranes</a></figcaption></figure>





<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/powered-access"><img src="https://hird.co.uk/assets/uploads/2024/04/access-platforms.jpg" alt="access platforms" class="wp-image-29731"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/powered-access">Access Platforms</a></figcaption></figure>





<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/trolleys-and-accessories"><img src="https://hird.co.uk/assets/uploads/2024/04/material-trolley.jpg" alt="material trolley" class="wp-image-29732"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/trolleys-and-accessories">Material Moving</a></figcaption></figure>





<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/glass-lifting"><img src="https://hird.co.uk/assets/uploads/2024/04/vacuum-lifter.jpg" alt="vacuum lifter" class="wp-image-29734"/></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/glass-lifting">Glass Lifting</a></figcaption></figure>





It is a complicated and safety-critical business. Many of our clients value our expertise. In fact, they rely on it. Expertise from Hird comes from people (not chatbots). Hire desk teams who know what they’re talking about. Technicians who want to help.



Hundreds, probably thousands, of times a year, our advice saves clients time, effort and money by advising them on the best combination of equipment needed for specific projects.









<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The curious engineer</h2>



In fact, expertise has always been at the centre of our service. It is epitomised by the development by Peter Hird Snr, who founded the business, of what has become known as the <a href="https://hird.co.uk/service-and-maintenance/the-hird-test-measuring-mewp-battery-endurance">Hird Test</a>.



Back in the 1980s, after a customer complained about the poor battery performance of an access platform, Peter Hird Snr set out to develop a method for checking how long a battery should last for every type and model of MEWP in the fleet.



It was the engineer in him. He wanted to know. That determination, led to a battery endurance test – the Hird Test – that is still used by manufacturers and rental specialists around the world.





<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://hird.co.uk/service-and-maintenance/the-hird-test-measuring-mewp-battery-endurance"><img src="https://hird.co.uk/assets/uploads/2022/10/The-Hird-Test-–-measuring-MEWP-battery-endurance.jpg" alt="The Hird Test – measuring MEWP battery endurance" class="wp-image-26643"/></a></figure>











<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Listening and delivering</h2>



The same practical and evidence-based approach to service is alive and well at Hird today.



It informs how we develop and manage our hire fleets and the type of new equipment we invest in.



We are continuously listening to customers. Working in partnership with them. So we can provide not just what they need now but in a year or two years’ time.







<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/tracked-maeda-mini-crane-hire/maeda-mc285-3-all-electric"><img src="https://hird.co.uk/assets/uploads/2024/04/maeda_mc285cb-3-all-electric_tracked-spider-crane-edited.png" alt="maeda_mc285cb-3-all-electric_tracked-spider-crane" class="wp-image-29723"/></a></figure>





<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/valla-pick-and-carry-cranes/v80r"><img src="https://hird.co.uk/assets/uploads/2024/04/Valla-V80R-pick-and-carry-crane-edited.jpg" alt="Valla-V80R-pick-and-carry-crane" class="wp-image-29724"/></a></figure>













It is why we are investing in <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/tracked-maeda-mini-crane-hire">electric Maeda spider cranes</a>. Why we have the most modern fleet of <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/valla-pick-and-carry-cranes">Valla electric pick and carry</a> in the UK, if not Europe.



It is why we work with manufacturers to commission and design bespoke <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/vacuum-lifters">vacuum glass lifters</a>, like the <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/glass-lifting/kappel-adjustable-fin-lifter">Fin Lifter</a> from <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/brands/kappel">Kappel</a>.



It is why, when our customers come to us, they know there is a much greater likelihood we will have precisely the right counterbalance lifting beam they need, and the <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/vacuum-lifters">glass vacuum lifter</a> to go with it.



Not just on our website, but in stock, ready to go out to site.





<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-full"><a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/glass-lifting/kappel-adjustable-fin-lifter"><img src="https://hird.co.uk/assets/uploads/2019/11/adjustable_fin_lifter_from_hird.jpg" alt="Product of the Month – Oktopus glass manipulator" class="wp-image-20813"/></a></figure>









<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Find out more about Hird service</h2>



There is more to say about Hird service – look out for another article in the coming weeks.



In the meantime, talk to us about <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/mini-cranes">mini crane hire</a>, <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/powered-access">access platform hire</a>, <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/glass-lifting">glass lifter hire</a> and <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/trolleys-and-accessories">materials lifting equipment hire</a>.



Remember, Hird service involves more than just equipment hire. We can supply equipment with operators, or manage projects on your behalf as contract lifts.



We can also deliver training for all equipment across our hire fleets.



Email: <a href="mailto:info@hird.co.uk">info@hird.co.uk</a>





Northern <a href="tel:01482227333">01482 227333</a>





Central <a href="tel:01302341659">01302 341659</a>





Southern <a href="tel:02031740658">0203 174 0658</a>









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Product of the Month – Hird Service

40 years of Hird – the lifting team that won’t let you down

The UNIC URW-094 tracked spider crane is the smallest and lightest machine in the Hird mini crane hire fleet. This mini crane weighs in at just 1,000kg but has a maximum safe lifting weight of 995kg.



Key features of this mini crane





<ul><li>Radio remote control operation</li><li>Load monitoring fitted as standard</li><li>Maximum working radius 5.17 metres</li><li>Over-winding alarm</li></ul>





<ul><li>Configurable outriggers for quick set-up, even on uneven ground</li><li>Will pass through single doorway</li><li>Power source – Petrol (LPG dual option)</li></ul>

UNIC URW-094

Hird’s UNIC spider crane hire fleet provides you with highly compact cranes that can be operated in the most confined spaces.
UNIC tracked spider cranes are ideal for operation across low load bearing floors. They are also ideal mini cranes for moving across difficult terrain and setting up where ground is uneven.
Choose UNIC mini cranes with a range of power options, including petrol, diesel, LPG and mains electric motors + dual power cranes. Call us to find out more about our UNIC crawler mini crane rental prices.

UNIC Spider Crane Hire

Mini crane hire from Hird offers one of the UK's largest and most advanced fleets of compact cranes. Our extensive mini crane hire range includes the latest <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/valla-pick-and-carry-cranes">Valla pick and carry cranes</a> and <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/tracked-maeda-mini-crane-hire">Maeda spider cranes</a>. 

Providing safe, efficient lifting solutions in confined spaces, restricted-access areas, and challenging work environments.

We are at the forefront of a revolution in mini crane development and utilisation, not least in the development of a new generation of mini cranes spanning the entire electric range, helping our clients stay aligned with challenging sustainability and carbon net zero objectives.

Mini Crane Hire

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URW094-UNIC-Tracked-Mini-Crane-HIRD

Download Spec Sheet

Hird provides a comprehensive operator training service, including:

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CPCS A66 Compact Crane

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urw_095_spider_mini_crane

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The UNIC URW-095 tracked mini crane combines the compact dimensions of the <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/mini-cranes/unic-urw-094">UNIC URW-094</a> with a greater working height and reach, making it a highly versatile addition to the Hird mini crane hire fleet.



Key features of this mini crane





<ul><li>Radio remote control operation</li><li>Load monitoring fitted as standard</li><li>Maximum working radius 8.41 metres</li><li>Maximum working height with fly jib 9.8m, with searcher hook, 10.47m</li></ul>





<ul><li>Over-winding alarm</li><li>Configurable outriggers for quick set-up, even on uneven ground</li><li>Power source – Petrol (LPG dual option)</li><li>Slewing – 360 degrees continuous</li></ul>

UNIC URW-095

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URW095-UNIC-Tracked-Mini-Crane-HIRD

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urw_295_spider_mini_crane

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The UNIC URW-295 gives our mini crane hire clients the same compact design as the <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/mini-cranes/unic-urw-094">UNIC URW-094</a> and <a href="https://hird.co.uk/products/mini-cranes/unic-urw-095">UNIC URW-095</a> spider cranes – but delivers more lifting power, with an impressive 2.9 tonne maximum safe working load.



Key features of this mini crane





<ul><li>Radio remote control operation</li><li>Load monitoring fitted as standard</li><li>Maximum working radius 8.41 metres</li><li>Maximum working height with fly jib 9.8m, with searcher hook, 10.47m</li><li>Over-winding alarm</li></ul>





<ul><li>Configurable outriggers for quick set-up, even on uneven ground</li><li>Power source – Petrol (LPG dual option)</li><li>Slewing – 360 degrees continuous</li><li>Option for low marking tracks</li></ul>

UNIC URW-295

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The UNIC URW-376 is a mid-range spider crane the Hird mini crane hire fleet – but there is nothing mid-range about its performance.



Key features of this mini crane





<ul><li>Maximum safe working load 2.9 t at 2.5 m</li><li>Maximum working height 14.9 m (16.6 m / fly jib, 17.33 / fixed hook)</li><li>Diesel power (electric dual option)</li><li>Radio remote control plus sit-on operator control</li><li>Maximum working radius 14.45 m</li></ul>





<ul><li>Gross weight 3850 t</li><li>Digital load monitoring safety system</li><li>Intelligent throttle activation for economical and sustainable use</li><li>Maximum wind speed for safe use 10m per second</li><li>Optional low marking tracks</li></ul>

UNIC URW-376

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URW376-UNIC-Tracked-Mini-Crane-HIRD

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UNIC URW-506 spider cranes are the work horses in Hird’s mini crane hire fleet. Mini yet mighty, these crawler mini cranes have a 15.71m boom length, industry leading safety features and dual fuel options.



Key features of this mini crane





<ul><li>Maximum safe working load 3.9 t at 3.4 m</li><li>Maximum working height 16m (17.790 with fly jib)</li><li>Diesel power (electric dual option)</li><li>Max working radius 15.52 m</li><li>Operator control of outrigger extension</li></ul>





<ul><li>Maximum safe working load 3.9 t at 3.4 m</li><li>Maximum working height 16m (17.790 with fly jib)</li><li>Diesel power (electric dual option)</li><li>Max working radius 15.52 m</li><li>Operator control of outrigger extension</li><li>Optional low-marking tracks</li><li>Intelligent throttle activation for fuel economy and sustainable operation</li><li>Full load monitoring system for safety and efficiency</li></ul>

UNIC URW-506

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The UNIC URW-706 spider crane is the heavyweight in Hird’s mini crane hire fleet. With a lifting capacity of up to 6.0t, it is a true leader in its class.



Key features of this mini crane





<ul><li>Maximum safe working load 6 t at 3 m</li><li>Max lifting height 19.5m (22.7m with second stage fly jib)</li><li>Power source diesel or electric mains</li><li>Power output 23.5 kw</li><li>Slewing 360 degrees (continuous)</li></ul>





<ul><li>Operator control of outrigger extension</li><li>Optional low-marking tracks</li><li>Intelligent throttle activation for fuel economy and sustainable operation</li><li>Load monitoring system for safety and efficiency.</li></ul>

Make an enquiry

UNIC

Enquire now about hire.

Call us on 01482 227333 or click the links below

UNIC URW-094

UNIC URW-095

UNIC URW-295

UNIC URW-376

UNIC URW-506

UNIC URW-706

Northern (Head Office)

01482 227 333

[email protected]

Central

01302 341 659

[email protected]

Southern

0203 174 0658

[email protected]