
Market
Report:
Health
&
Safety
pt1:
Work
at
height
&
manual
handling
Latest
products:
Manual
Handling
Liftec
lightens
the
load
Besides
hiring
and
selling
products
for
manual
handling
and
tasks
involving
work
at
height,
Liftec
Solutions
Ltd
specialises
in
developing
customised
equipment.
It
recently
supplied
a
bespoke
system
to
Excel
Leisure,
a
manufacturer
of
pool
tables,
whose
staff
have
to
handle
heavy
slate
beds.
The
slabs
are
supplied
packed
vertically
and
have
to
be
rotated
through
45°
on
to
a
table
for
assembly.
Each
slate
weighs
approximately
100kg
and
previously
had
to
be
handled
by
four
people.
It
now
requires
only
two
persons
to
move
a
slab
on
to
the
dedicated
machine,
and
just
one
is
needed
to
manoeuvre
it
on
to
the
table.
Liftec
also
adapted
a
hand
pallet
truck
for
the
improved
handling
of
the
long
and
narrow
slate
delivery
crates.
Previously,
these
had
to
be
perched
on
a
standard
pallet
truck
and
held
upright
by
several
people
to
prevent
them
falling.
The
crates
also
had
to
be
pulled
backwards
to
the
doors
of
the
delivery
container,
which
restricted
operator
visibility.
Liftecs
modification
enables
crates
to
be
turned
round
within
the
container
by
one
man.
It
is
also
fitted
with
a
brake
for
added
safety.
T
0161
477
4499
W
www.liftecsolutions.co.uk
Get
your
skates
on
with
AeroGo
AeroGo
UK
offers
a
range
of
air
skates
and
air
jacks
that
are
said
to
offer
payback
periods
of
as
short
as
15
weeks.
The
skates
work
by
using
a
thin
film
of
air
to
float
loads
across
floors
and
can
assist
with
machinery
installations,
factory
relocations
and
moving
equipment
in
clean
room
environments.
A
system
of
skates
suitable
for
6
tonne
loads
can
fit
into
a
car
boot.
The
air
jacks
can
be
inserted
into
gaps
as
narrow
as
22mm
and
the
largest
system
has
a
lifting
capacity
of
more
than
132
tonnes.
They
are
designed
to
inflate
in
seconds
and,
unlike
hydraulic
jacks,
can
be
used
vertically
and
horizontally.
Forward
looking
hirers
should
invest
in
these
products
now,
because
there
is
an
opportunity
to
achieve
premium
rates,
contends
Managing
Director
Barry
Dean.
I
forecast
that,
within
five
years,
every
hire
company
involved
in
lifting
equipment
will
stock
them,
by
which
time
payback
periods
will
have
lengthened.
T
0870
401
4545
W
www.aerogo-uk.co.uk
Pfaff-silberblau
prepares
for
growth
Pfaff-silberblau
Ltd
intends
to
develop
its
materials
handling
equipment
activity
significantly
in
2006.
Having
reported
record
sales
and
profit
growth
figures
last
year,
it
is
focusing
particularly
on
its
range
of
hand
pallet
and
powered
trucks.
New
staff
have
been
appointed
to
grow
this
market.
The
company
is
now
launching
a
range
of
counterbalanced
powered
stacker
trucks.
The
EAV
EPC
line-up
covers
load
capacities
from
600kg
to
1500kg,
with
lift
heights
up
to
4500mm.
They
are
said
to
be
able
to
perform
many
of
the
standard
tasks
of
a
forklift
truck,
but
at
lower
cost.
Managing
Director
Paul
Kelly
states
We
enjoyed
excellent
growth
in
all
product
areas
in
2005.
Divesting
ourselves
of
our
entertainment
division
has
enabled
us
to
focus
on
our
core
products.
T
0151
609
1900
W
www.pfaff-silberblau.co.uk
Kangas
helpful
Kid
The
Kanga
Kid,
from
Kanga
Loaders,
can
simplify
many
manual
handling
tasks.
Powered
by
a
16hp
Honda
engine,
it
has
an
operating
width
of
755mm
and
fits
through
standard
doorways.
With
a
maximum
lift
capacity
of
100kg
and
break
out
force
of
more
than
200kg,
it
can
be
fitted
with
wheels
or
tracks.
The
machine
accepts
attachments
including
a
kerb
lifter,
a
carryall
leveller
and
a
drum
handler.
The
range
also
includes
a
post
hole
borer
and
a
4
in
1
bucket
and
angle
blade,
which
can
limit
the
amount
of
direct
contact
involved
with
lifting
and
clearance
tasks.
As
standard,
Kanga
Kids
are
fitted
with
an
auxiliary
safety
shut
down,
self
levelling
bucket
setting,
enclosed
driver
chains,
non-slip
rear
step
and
tie-down
lugs.
T
0845
260
4800
W
www.kanga-loader.com
Castellan
offers
Wimag
range
Castellan
Group
has
been
appointed
by
the
German
manufacturer
Wimag
as
sole
UK
distributor
for
its
equipment
for
the
construction
and
lifting
related
industries.
The
range
includes
vacuum
operated
attachments
for
lifting
pipes,
kerb
stones,
slabs,
manhole
covers
and
other
similar
objects,
lifting
grabs
and
hooks
for
handling
concrete
pipes,
manholes
and
steel
piles,
and
pipe
pulling
equipment
for
joint
sealing
pipes
in
trenches.
Castellan
Managing
Director
Colin
Jailler
states,
The
range
complements
our
existing
line
of
concrete
and
drilling
related
products.
In
addition,
Wimag
can
design
and
build
equipment
to
customers
individual
needs.
T
01908
281400
W
www.castellan.co.uk
Versatile
AL-Vac
crane
AL-Vac
UKs
mini
truck
and
van
crane
is
typically
installed
at
the
rear
of
a
truck
and
located
within
a
square
socket,
although
the
socket
can
be
positioned
anywhere
on
the
vehicle
body.
Offering
a
capacity
of
160kg,
the
crane
can
be
removed
simply
by
lifting
it
from
the
socket
and
disconnecting
the
electrics.
Similarly,
the
unit
can
be
located
inside
the
rear
doors
of
a
suitably
sized
van.
The
product
can
be
specified
with
a
safety
hook
for
conventional
lifting
tasks,
or
fitted
with
the
AL-Vac
Handyman
vacuum
lifter.
This
is
available
with
attachments
for
handling
kerbstones,
slabs,
drums,
barrels
and
other
non-standard
loads.
All
up
and
down
movements
and
suction
are
controlled
by
switchgear
on
the
handlebars
for
optimum
performance
and
safety.
T
0870
2418772
W
www.al-vac.co.uk
Shift
it
with
Hire
Supply
The
Hire
Supply
Companys
Elite
range
of
sack
trucks
covers
11
models
with
lifting
capacities
from
80-360kg.
They
include
a
three-wheeled
stairclimber
and
a
cabinet
and
vending
machine
mover,
together
with
high-backed,
compact
and
extended
toe-plate
models.
The
trucks
are
made
from
tubular
steel
and
a
knuckle
guard
is
fitted
to
all
two-handled
models.
Also
available
are
two
pallet
trucks.
The
standard
model
has
a
maximum
lift
height
of
185mm
and
can
lift
up
to
2.5
tonnes,
while
a
low-level
version
can
lift
1.5
tonnes
to
a
height
of
142mm.
Both
feature
a
compact
pumping
unit
and
a
three
position
hydraulic
lever.
For
moving
panes
of
glass,
HSCs
glass
suckers
are
available
with
either
a
triple
or
double
head,
with
a
maximum
lift
capacity
of
100kg
and
60kg
respectively.
T
0845
309
0707
W
www.thehiresupplycompany.co.uk
Executive
Hire
News
Archives
Feb/March
2006
Market
Report
Latest
products:
Manual
handling
 |