PENNY HYDRAULICS
PRESS RELEASES 2008
PEN08/22: THINK ABOUT SAFER HANDLING (6 October 2008)
PEN08/30: CRANE PROVIDES KEY TO QUAYSIDE FISH HANDLING (10
September 2008)
PEN08/29: NEW TYRE PRESS? DIESEL DO NICELY! (1 September
2008)
PEN08/05: NEW GRID LIFT TAKES THE STRAIN OUT OF GULLY
COVER HANDLING IN SOMERSET (12 August 2008)
PEN08/26: FOLDAWAY 1200, TONNES BETTER FOR LOAD HANDLING
(30 July 2008)
PEN08/23: PENNY POSTS NEW WAY OF HANDLING FOR ROYAL MAIL
(26 June 2008)
PEN08/21: FIRST FULLY HYDRAULIC 500KG CRANE FROM PENNY
HYDRAULICS (13 May 2008)
PEN08/07: DAVIT CRANE FOR SIMPLE AND SAFE DOWN-HOLE
HANDLING (1 April 2008)
PEN08/06: NEW LOAD HANDLING CAPABILITIES FOR NISSAN LCV
(26 February 2008)
PEN08/03: NEW PRODUCTS AND PARTNERSHIPS FROM PENNY
HYDRAULICS AT CV SHOW 2008 (20 February 2008)
PEN08/01: HODSOCK PRIORY SELECTS CELLAR LIFT (7 February
2008)
SELECTED PRESS RELEASES ISSUED DURING 2007
SELECTED PRESS RELEASES ISSUED DURING 2006
SELECTED PRESS RELEASES ISSUED DURING 2005
SELECTED PRESS RELEASES ISSUED DURING 2004
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
CONTACT DETAILS
BACK TO CLIENT PRESS RELEASES
==============================
PRESS INFORMATION (TOP)
Issue Date: 6 October 2008
Ref: PEN08/22
THINK ABOUT SAFER LOAD HANDLING
By Richard Short, Sales Director, Penny Hydraulics
 
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Rules, regulations and guidelines related to manual handling are getting more
stringent. What was commonly accepted little more than a decade ago is now
prohibited by new legislation. The challenge facing many businesses is how to
comply with the current requirements and provide a safer working environment for
their employees without overburdening themselves with excessive cost or
technical complexity.
The latest HSE figures show that in 2004/5 around 1.9 million working days
were lost through injuries caused by handling, lifting or carrying and that each
incident resulted in around 9.3 days off work. This figure, which implies over
one million people were directly affected, accounts for over one quarter of days
lost through work related injuries. Other reported figures suggest that the main
reason for time off work is musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) caused or made
worse by current or past work, with handling a contributory factor. Almost 11
million working days were lost to MSDs in 2006/7.
One of the weapons in the fight against workplace injuries is to reduce or
remove the risk. For manual handling the simplest way is to eliminate the task.
This is clearly not practical in many cases so the next best option is to
provide employees with an alternative method of lifting and handling. If, as
another HSE statistic suggests, around 47 per cent of the workforce has a job
that involves manual handling this could be one of the most important health and
safety decisions a company can take. Incidentally, the HSE figures also suggest
that handling related accident rates are higher at businesses with more than 25
employees so anyone under the impression that this someone else’s problem should
think again.
Current regulations require that employers avoid the need for hazardous
manual handling “so far as is reasonably practicable”. There are no set limits
for the maximum weight that can be lifted safely but the HSE recommends that men
should not lift more than 25kg to any height under any circumstances (women no
more than 13kg). These guidelines are for infrequent operations - fewer than 30
operations per hour - where work is reasonably paced, adequate pauses or use of
different muscles are possible, and the load is not supported by the handler for
any length of time. The maximum recommended weights are reduced significantly if
operations are more frequent. Although these are not ‘limits’, working outside
them is likely to increase the risk of injury and alternative practices are
clearly advisable.
For many applications that involve handling items on and off a commercial
vehicle a crane or platform lift can be a practical and affordable solution.
Vehicle mounted cranes are versatile for general load handling and applications
such as where the load size may vary, when the item cannot easily be moved
towards the vehicle, or when the requirement is to access both sides and the
rear of the vehicle. Equipped with a winch a crane is also suitable for handling
items below ground level. Vehicle mounted platform lifts are also good for
general load handling and are especially useful for items that can be rolled
onto the platform or moved with a trolley or similar device. Models are
available for mounting at the side of the vehicle as well as the rear which is
why the term “tail lift” tells only half the story.
The traditional view is that cranes and platform lifts are only viable for
handling larger items but the latest models from the leading manufacturers are
suitable for all loads covered by the current manual handling regulations. They
are designed specifically for use on most light commercial vehicles and can be
installed with little or no modification to the chassis or bodywork. Entry level
models with maximum lifting capacities of around 250kg are ideal for many
applications but will not impinge unduly on the carrying capacity of the
vehicle. Larger models with maximum capacities up to around 2000kg for cranes
and 500kg for platform lifts are available for mounting on virtually any size
and shape of commercial vehicle to suit most applications.
Bearing in mind that these products are generally used by people who are more
concerned with other aspects of their work they need to be easy to operate,
robust and reliable. There is no point in equipping vehicles with something that
is difficult to use or has features that are not required. The best designs will
be simple to use and efficient. There is a trend towards greater use of
hydraulic power as this offers a number of benefits in terms of handling
precision, performance and operational safety.
Whatever the choice, load handling equipment should only be used after staff
have received proper training and the appropriate risk assessments have been
completed. This is not difficult and should help to ensure that companies and
their employees continue to carry out their tasks as safely and efficiently as
possible.
CAPTIONS
Cabstar01.jpg (left): Vehicle mounted cranes are ideal for general load
handling applications for loads of different shapes and sizes and when items
need to be handled to both sides and the rear of the vehicle.
Easyloadertyre.jpg (right): Platform lifts are ideal for general load
handling and for items that can be rolled on and off the platform.
==============================
PRESS INFORMATION (TOP)
Issue Date: 10 September 2008
Ref: PEN08/30
CRANE PROVIDES KEY TO QUAYSIDE FISH HANDLING
(No images available for this release - for a generic crane image please
click here)
When Sutton Harbour Fisheries needed an alternative method of handling fish
boxes from boats to the quayside while its normal facilities were out of action
due to scheduled harbour maintenance in 2007 it found a vehicle mounted crane
supplied by Penny Hydraulics offered an ideal solution. Installing a Penny
Hydraulics Swing Lift crane on a new pickup truck provided a highly effective,
flexible and mobile solution to the company’s requirements.
“We are very pleased with the crane and it’s been exactly what we needed,”
says Pete Bromley, Harbourmaster and Fisheries Manager of Sutton Harbour
Company. “Penny Hydraulics couldn’t have been more helpful. They listened to
what we had to say and came up with a solution.”
Based in Plymouth, Sutton Harbour Fisheries is one of the most successful
fish markets in the UK, trading millions of pounds worth of fish each year
caught locally or landed at other ports throughout the country. The harbour is
accessed through a lock gate which can be closed to create a haven for local
boats to moor and land their catch. Sutton Harbour Fisheries normally offloads
fish boxes using specialist handling equipment permanently installed at the
quayside. The lock gate was scheduled for renewal during the second half of 2007
and this meant the boats would need to find an alternative position to land
their catch while the work was being carried out because they would not have
access to the harbour.
Sutton Harbour Fisheries recognised that it needed to find an effective
temporary method for landing the local catch safely and efficiently so that the
fishermen’s livelihoods would not be affected. A permanent location was
considered impractical and instead the company came up with the idea of a crane
mounted on a vehicle that could drive to any position along the quayside and
lift fish boxes from the boats and take them to the market. Pete Bromley made
contact with Penny Hydraulics which proposed one of its Swing Lift cranes with
an integrated electric winch for handling loads below quay level. The crane was
installed to the manufacturer’s specification at the rear of a new Iveco
extended flatbed pickup by a local specialist marine engineer.
“We ordered the crane and it was delivered to us ready for fitting,” says
Pete Bromley. “The engineers fitted and tested it for us. It was one of the
easiest jobs I’ve ever put together.”
When a boat arrives at the quay the vehicle drives alongside and uses the
crane to lift up to three fish boxes weighing as much as 200kg in total from the
boat to the platform. The simple design of the crane allows the boom to be
extended and positioned by hand for simplicity and reliability. Depending on the
size of boat and tide the crane may need to lift the boxes from up to 8m (25ft)
below quay level. This is achieved using the crane’s integrated electric winch
to lift and lower the boxes. As soon as items are clear of the quayside the boom
is rotated by hand so that loads can be lowered onto the vehicle. When the boxes
have been offloaded the pickup takes the catch to market before returning to the
quay for more fish. Reliability is vital because fish must reach market as soon
as possible after arriving at the quayside.
Penny Hydraulics provided specialist training to Sutton Harbour Fisheries
employees so that they understood how to use the crane safely and efficiently.
The company supplied a spare wire rope to ensure that fish handling could
continue if there was any damage to the original. Maintenance support is
provided by the company’s local service engineer on a call-out basis. The simple
design and robust construction of the Swing Lift crane ensures routine checks
and maintenance tasks can be completed quickly and easily.
Sutton Harbour Fisheries has already found a number of other jobs it can do
with the crane and has now decided to keep the vehicle once the harbour reopens
even though it had originally decided that the truck and crane would only be
needed while the lock gates were out of action.
“Now we have the crane we are finding all kinds of jobs for it around the
harbour,” says Pete Bromley.
============================
PRESS INFORMATION (TOP)
Issue Date: 1 September 2008
Ref: PEN08/29
NEW TYRE PRESS? DIESEL DO NICELY!
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select save)
A brand new mobile tyre press uniquely powered by a diesel
generator has been delivered to Yorkshire-based Ossett Tyre House (Ken Clarke
Ltd) by Penny Hydraulics. The diesel generator will allow Ossett Tyre House (Ken
Clarke Ltd), approved agent and service provider for BMH Industrial Tyres, to
expand its capabilities and visit customers in chemical and process industries
where petrol powered equipment is prohibited for safety reasons.
“The new press opens up new opportunities for us because we
can now go onto customers’ sites and offer an additional service,” says Stuart
Clarke, Director of Ossett Tyre House (Ken Clarke Ltd). “It’s great to be using
the first diesel powered press and to get the support from its owners BMH
Industrial Tyres.”
Family-owned Ossett Tyre House (Ken Clarke Ltd) has been an
agent and service provider for Briggs Equipment since 1986 covering Yorkshire
and the surrounding area. It is one of the 97 outlets in the nationwide network
managed by BMH Industrial Tyres, the UK’s largest independent tyre service
group, which is owned by Briggs Equipment.
Ossett Tyre House (Ken Clarke Ltd) has operated a static
tyre press at its main depot for a number of years. However, in conjunction with
BMH Industrial Tyres the company recognised that a mobile press would enable it
to broaden its capabilities to include on-site service to support a number of
Briggs Equipment forklift customers at local factories and warehouses. Across
its network BMH Industrial Tyres operates over 40 static and mobile tyre presses
and was keen to help Ossett Tyre House (Ken Clarke Ltd) by purchasing the new
equipment. BMH Industrial Tyres approached Penny Hydraulics, which has supplied
it with tyre presses and related services for fifteen years.
“Penny Hydraulics is a press manufacturer that leads the
industry,” says Clive Green, Tyre Dealer Sales Manager at BMH Industrial Tyres.
“They listen to us, discuss what we want and then come up with suggestions and
solutions. The new press with the diesel engine is a good example of this.”
New regulations stipulate that equipment powered by
generators with petrol engines can no longer be used in chemical plants and
other areas where is a risk of explosion. The new diesel powered mobile press
devised by Penny Hydraulics eliminates this risk and is completely self
contained which means it can be used anywhere without relying on local power
supplies.
The new press had to be lightweight for economical towing
but strong and robust enough to do the job and avoid flexing under load, which
would be dangerous and limit its working life. The platform needed to be low
enough for engineers to place and remove tyres and wheels easily and with little
or no manual handling. Penny Hydraulics designed and manufactured a compact
trailer-mounted 150 tonne capacity press that can cope with tyres ranging from
300x4 to 1200x24 in size, making it suitable for almost any solid tyre used by
lift trucks and other common industrial equipment.
Using its experience as a tyre press manufacture, Penny
Hydraulics incorporated a number of ease-of-use and health and safety features
into the design. For example, all of the controls are placed at the side of the
unit rather than at the front so that the operator must move away from the
working area before activating the press. The pressure gauge and safety stop
button are all within clear view and easy reach.
The generator is activated by a key to prevent unauthorised
use and push button start and stop for simplicity. Dual 120 and 240V outlets
allow it to be used to power simultaneously the press and ancillary hand tools
such as angle grinders and power drills used by tyre fitters. Penny Hydraulics
also supplied a standard set of tools, including cones and spacers, for specific
tasks that enable the press to accommodate a wide range of tyre sizes. Each tool
is clearly colour coded and marked for safety and convenience. Certain tools are
also shaped in such a way as to prevent inappropriate use.
“These are not the cheapest presses on the market but they
are more reliable and do the job properly,” says Clive Green. “On average we buy
two or three tyre presses from them each year.”
As part of its overall service Penny Hydraulics provides
training for customers to use its equipment safely and efficiently. This
complements the training that Briggs Equipment and BMH Industrial Tyres gives to
its own staff who use the static and mobile presses. Penny Hydraulics also
provides a rolling service contract to BMH Industrial Tyres that includes an
annual statutory maintenance inspection to make sure all of the 42 mobile and
static units used by the company are safe and serviceable. It also carries out
servicing and repairs as part of the contract and has refurbished a number of
presses, including devices originally supplied by other manufacturers. Some of
these presses are now over twenty years old but continue to give reliable and
safe performance following their most recent refurbishment.
“We work closely with Penny Hydraulics to make sure we have
all the right health and safety equipment and that it is working properly at all
times,” says Clive Green. “We are members of the ITA and although we do our own
fleet management the support we receive from Penny Hydraulics ensures we
continue to abide by all the regulations covering our industry.”
CAPTIONS
ossett013.jpg:
From right:
Clive Green, Tyre Dealer Sales Manager at BMH Industrial Tyres
John Penny, Managing Director at Penny Hydraulics
Stuart Clarke, Director at Ossett Tyre House (Ken Clarke Ltd)
Members of the Ossett Tyre House and BMH Industrial Tyres team
ossett016.jpg:
John Penny (right) showing Clive Green how the tyre press operates
ossett021.jpg:
Clive Green presents the new press to Stuart Clarke
==============================
PRESS INFORMATION (TOP)
Issue Date: 12 August 2008
Ref: PEN08/05
NEW GRID LIFT TAKES THE STRAIN OUT OF GULLY COVER HANDLING IN SOMERSET
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An innovative solution for lifting gully and drain covers has been developed
by Penny Hydraulics in conjunction with Atkins Highway Services to eliminate the
need for manual handling of these heavy grids. Trials with the prototype
completed by Atkins’ Somerset Highways Commission at the end of 2007 suggest
that staff can now clear more gullies in the same period, more safely and with
no need for manual handling. Atkins’ Somerset Commission has now placed an order
to equip its entire fleet of gully tankers with the new device, known as the
Penny Hydraulics Grid Lift.
“We are committed to significantly reducing the number of work related
injuries year on year and the Grid Lift is really going to help,” says Simon
White, Network Contract Commission Manager at Atkins Somerset. “It lifts the
full range of covers in an effortless and controlled manner and has ended
repetitive manual handling. From what I can see there is nothing else like it on
the market.”
Atkins is the network service provider for Somerset County Council with
responsibility for emptying the county’s 132,000 gullies. Its fleet of six
specialist tanker vehicles cleans and empties gullies on a regular basis. Each
vehicle and its two-man crew needs to inspect and clear around 26,000 gullies a
year, a daily average of 85. At each gully the cover has to be lifted off to
provide access for cleaning and then replaced before the vehicle moves on. In
the past the covers, which can weigh up to 100kg, had to be lifted by hand using
basic tools and levers. Atkins Somerset recognised that historically around 20
per cent of its reportable “over three day” workforce injuries were related to
gully operations. Most of these were back injuries but about one third were
related to hands and fingers. It was clear that reducing manual handling would
cut the number of injuries.
“We had a real concern about the manual handling of gully covers based on
risk assessments and injury statistics,” says Simon White. “Like the rest of the
industry we ask our crews to lift and replace around eighty to one hundred
covers a day, each weighing between 10kg and 100kg. In effect each crew was
lifting around four tonnes of ironwork a day, five days a week. This was not
good for backs, arms, shoulders or trapped fingers.”
Atkins’ Somerset Commission had previously worked with Penny Hydraulics when
the load handling equipment specialist had supplied 45 of its Swing Lift Kerb
Lift cranes for lifting kerb stones and similar items on and off highways
maintenance vehicles. The contractor was keen to involve its workforce in
finding a solution for handling the gully covers. Informal discussions
highlighted scepticism about mechanical handling among operatives who believed
that the winch based lifters fitted as standard to their vehicles were not up to
the job. Staff reported that these devices were slow and cumbersome to use and
could be potentially dangerous if the wire rope became detached under tension.
The health and safety team at Atkins and the company’s fleet services
division, Atkins Transport Management (ATM), asked one of their tanker crews,
Eryl Bale and Neil Forrester, to attend meetings and give their opinions as they
had experienced strained backs and shoulders in the past. ATM then asked Penny
Hydraulics if they could work together to find a suitable solution based on
their ideas.
“I had a few ideas about what would and wouldn’t work and sketched these out
on paper,“ says Eryl Bale.
Penny Hydraulics devised a design based on two hydraulic rams, one mounted
horizontally to extend and retract the lifter and one mounted vertically to lift
and lower the gully lid. The unit is mounted laterally on the tanker’s chassis
and can pivot through a small arc which allows the cover to be moved aside for
easy access and cleaning of the gully. One of the main challenges was to work
out how the new device would pick up the gully cover. The solution was to design
a small frame which locks into place on the end of the vertical arm and then
attaches to the gully cover by simple twist clips that can accommodate castings
with different profiles.
“We have a lot of experience working with customers to devise solutions based
on their unique requirements,” says Rob Thomson, Area Sales Manager at Penny
Hydraulics. “The hydraulic arm presented a relatively complex design issue but
this is our area of expertise. The tricky bit was designing a suitable grapple
that would connect to the range of gully covers used in Somerset. We went out on
site to understand what was needed.”
The resulting prototype was fitted to a new gully tanker purchased by Atkins
Somerset during 2007 and taken through extensive field trials. These showed that
the new device had great potential and would enable a crew to clear each gully
in an average of around two minutes. The Grid Lift can lift up to 500kg but this
is restricted to 300kg for normal operations. A remote control key pad allows
the tanker crew to stand safely away from any moving parts during lifting and
lowering. The hydraulic mechanism provides smooth, precise and accurate
movements for the best possible combination of performance and safety. Two
independent locking pins secure the device safely in the retracted position when
the vehicle is moving.
“We were really impressed with the prototype,” says Simon White. “It is much
safer but there has been minimal impact on productivity. It has also been useful
in un-seizing covers that are stuck fast which in the past have been a major
cause of strained backs.”
During the trial Eryl Bale and the ATM team identified a number of potential
improvements that were then introduced by Penny Hydraulics to produce the first
production model in January 2008. These included extending the reach of the
device by 300mm (12in) and increasing the amount of lateral pivot slightly to
make it easier to access and handle covers at the roadside, shortening the
grapple to make it easier to handle, repositioning the clip for the remote
control handset for greater convenience, and replacing the black finish of the
moving parts with a distinctive metallic coating that will deteriorate less
under arduous working conditions.
“I really noticed the difference when I had to use one of the older vehicles
while the new tanker was being modified,” says Eryl Bale. “After the first day
my back was aching again so I was really pleased when the new vehicle was ready.
Hopefully other operatives around the country will have a chance to benefit from
this device.”
==============================
PRESS INFORMATION (TOP)
Issue Date: 30 July 2008
Ref: PEN08/26
FOLDAWAY 1200, TONNES BETTER FOR LOAD HANDLING
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select save)
The new Swing Lift Foldaway 1200 (FV1200) from Penny Hydraulics is a fully
hydraulic 1200kg capacity vehicle mounted crane designed for a wide range of
load handling applications including service, engineering and deliveries.
Compact design, robust construction and light weight ensure the Foldaway 1200
can be installed on a wide range of 3.5t+ commercial vehicles to provide
reliable and flexible load handling capabilities that reduce or eliminate the
need for manual handling, promote productivity and allow operators to comply
with health and safety regulations.
Self contained hydraulics provide full 360 degree slew rotation with powered
boom raise and lower for controlled, precise and safe handling and all round
access to loads. This helps to ensure that there are no unexpected or sudden
movements from the crane or load, even when the vehicle is parked on uneven
ground. The hydraulic slew and boom operation, combined with market leading
safety systems, is believed to be unique in the “one tonne” class of vehicle
mounted crane. Hydraulic boom extension and retraction is standard which, with a
range of optional manual extensions, eliminates the need to climb on the vehicle
or approach the crane to adjust its reach for improved productivity and greater
safety. The addition of an optional hydraulic or electric winch enables the
crane to raise and lower loads below ground level, for example to support
utility maintenance and engineering tasks.
Maximum lifting capacity is 1200kg at 1.5 metres with the boom fully
retracted, a generous 500kg when the boom is extended to 3.4 metres and 250kg at
full 4.0 metre extension. This means that the Foldaway 1200 can handle a wide
range of loads to either side or rear of the vehicle wherever it is mounted on
the chassis. A wander lead with simple push button controls enables operators to
remain well away from the lifting area when handling loads for ultimate safety.
Compact design and total overall weight of under 200kg in standard
configuration ensures that the Foldaway 1200 can be installed without unduly
affecting load carrying capacity. It folds down when not in use to leave clear
and unobstructed access to the vehicle and load space. A choice of 12 or 24V
power enables simple installation by connection to the existing wiring. The
unique mounting socket fitting allows the crane to be transferred between
vehicles.
The Foldaway 1200 complements existing Swing Lift cranes in the Penny
Hydraulics range and is designed to comply with all major health and safety and
load handling regulations including BS EN12999:2002, PUWER and LOLER. Penny
Hydraulics offers a nationwide fitting and after sales service and can also
supply cranes ready for installation by vehicle body builders at their own
premises.
==============================
PRESS INFORMATION (TOP)
Issue Date: 26 June 2008
Ref: PEN08/23
PENNY POSTS NEW WAY OF HANDLING FOR ROYAL MAIL
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select save)
Penny Hydraulics has developed a special vehicle mounted platform lift for
Royal Mail Letters that is helping to simplify the safe handling and collection
of post trolley cages using smaller vans. The platform lift, known as the York
Load Lift, was designed to replace conventional underslung tail lifts that could
no longer be fitted to Royal Mail Letters’ new van models which have a lower
ground clearance. The Load Lift enables four York cages weighing up to 250kg
each when full to be carried without exceeding current vehicle load limits.
Royal Mail Letters has so far deployed around 50 of these Four York Carrier vans
to help ensure mail can be collected and delivered to sorting offices on time to
meet new delivery schedules.
“We needed something that was simple and safe to use,” says Chris Fisher,
Fleet Planning and Operations Manager at Royal Mail Letters. “We said to Penny
Hydraulics ‘here’s a problem - find a solution’ and they did. It’s a decent bit
of kit.”
Changes in road transport legislation have meant that Royal Mail Letters must
complete collection rounds slightly earlier in the day in order to meet its
overnight delivery targets for first class mail. Among a number of changes to
procedures the company identified that deploying small vans would help it avoid
the incoming restrictions placed on larger vehicles and at the same time be
nimbler and more flexible when managing collections. However, the company needed
to find a different way of handling loads on and off vehicles because the latest
model of its preferred van had lower ground clearance that did not allow the
installation of existing tail lifts.
The company approached Penny Hydraulics and other suppliers for potential
solutions based on its brief. One of its key requirements was for the new
vehicles to handle safely the York trolley cages widely used to transport either
trayed or bags of mail. The new vans had to accommodate four Yorks, each
weighing up to 250kg, without the overall weight of the vehicle exceeding 3.5t.
Royal Mail Letters also stipulated that the device should be able to handle
safely the other dolleys, trolleys and carts used for collecting and
transporting mail between post offices and sorting offices. It had to be simple
enough for one-man operations but with the reliability and performance to work
in a fast-moving business where schedules must be met every day.
Penny Hydraulics devised a solution based on its Load Lift, a light and
compact platform lift that offers a safe, reliable and economical way of
handling loads. The unique design of the York Load Lift allows it to be
installed inside the rear doors of the van without restricting access to the
load area or affecting alternative carrying solutions.
During collections, a York cage is rolled onto the platform and lifted into
the vehicle, pushed into position and secured. The fourth cage remains on the
York Load Lift to ensure maximum use of space within the vehicle. Cages are
removed in reverse order at the destination. The York Load Lift’s self contained
hydraulic systems ensure smooth, precise and assured operation. Simple push
button controls, automatic battery isolation and overload protection promote
ease of use and safety. A manual backup pump was supplied to ensure cages could
be off loaded from vans in case of battery failure.
The York Load Lifts were supplied with a special platform matched to the
dimensions of Royal Mail’s equipment and which incorporated restraining straps
and automatic roll stops to ensure the cages can be secured safely during
operation and when inside the vehicle. A prototype was tested on a
delivery/collection route in East London where business mail volumes have been
increasing. The smaller van is more manoeuvrable than larger vehicles used
previously and this helped Royal Mail Letters be more responsive to its
customers’ needs. A second prototype was tested in Devon where the new road
transport legislation made it more difficult to get mail from outlying rural
locations such as Dartmouth to the local hub in Exeter in time for trunking to
other depots. The new vehicle enabled the company to meet its scheduling
commitments more easily. In both cases there was a positive response from the
postal staff who used the vehicles.
Working with Royal Mail Letters and its fleet vehicle supply partner, Penny
Hydraulics used feedback from the trials to perfect the overall design. This
included re-engineering the platform chassis and frame to reduce the overall
weight of production models to support enhanced vehicle load carrying
capability. Royal Mail Letters currently has 50 of the new York Load Lifts in
operation around the country and plans to increase the numbers in the near
future. The company is also assessing whether the device can be used for
additional load handling operations to support flexible working practices.
“At Penny Hydraulics the attitude was ‘let us build something for you’ rather
than lead us down a particular route,” says Chris Fisher. “They worked with us
and took a risk in investing in a new product but it didn’t hinder them on
delivering what we needed.”
==============================
PRESS INFORMATION (TOP)
Issue Date: 13 May 2008
Ref: PEN08/21
FIRST FULLY HYDRAULIC 500KG CRANE FROM PENNY HYDRAULICS
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select save)
The new hydraulic Foldaway 500 (FV500) is the first fully hydraulic 500kg
capacity Swing Lift vehicle mounted crane from Penny Hydraulics. Designed for a
wide range of load handling applications including service, engineering and
deliveries the FV500 is also believed to be the first fully-hydraulic vehicle
mounted crane in the 500kg performance class. Compact design, robust
construction and light weight ensure the FV500 can be installed on a wide range
commercial vehicles to provide reliable and flexible load handling capabilities
that reduce or eliminate the need for manual handling, promote productivity and
allow operators to comply with health and safety regulations.
Self contained hydraulics provide full 360 degree slew rotation with powered
boom raise and lower for controlled, precise and safe handling and all round
access to loads. This helps to ensure that there are no unexpected or sudden
movements from the crane or load, even when the vehicle is parked on uneven
ground. Hydraulic boom extension and retraction is standard which, with a range
of optional manual extensions, eliminates the need to climb on the vehicle or
approach the crane to adjust its reach for improved productivity and greater
safety. The electric winch enables the crane to raise and lower loads below
ground level, for example to support utility maintenance and engineering tasks.
Maximum lifting capacity is 500kg in all possible boom extension and
elevation settings. This means that the FV500 can handle its full load at all
times for complete operational versatility. A wander lead with simple push
button controls enables operators to remain well away from the lifting area when
handling loads for ultimate safety.
Compact design and low overall weight ensures that the FV500 can be installed
without unduly affecting load carrying capacity. It folds down when not in use
to leave clear and unobstructed access to the vehicle and load space. A choice
of 12 or 24V power enables simple installation by connection to the existing
vehicle wiring. The unique mounting socket fitting allows the crane to be
transferred between vehicles.
The FV500 complements existing Swing Lift cranes in the Penny Hydraulics
range and is designed to comply with all major health and safety and load
handling regulations including BS EN12999:2002, Supply of Machinery Regulations
and LOLER. Penny Hydraulics offers a nationwide fitting and after sales service
and can also supply cranes ready for installation by vehicle body builders at
their own premises.
==============================
PRESS INFORMATION (TOP)
Issue Date: 1 April 2008
Ref: PEN08/07
DAVIT CRANE FOR SIMPLE AND SAFE DOWN-HOLE HANDLING
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select save)
A special lightweight and portable Davit Crane developed by Penny Hydraulics
is designed to make it easier and safer for utility and ground engineers to
handle heavy items such as pumps up and down access shafts at remote sites. The
unit incorporates a powerful electric winch capable of lifting loads weighing up
to 500kg and is designed to replace traditional devices such as block and tackle
and eliminate manual handling. Light weight, robust construction and ease of use
combine to provide users with a versatile and effective load handling tool.
Penny Hydraulics responded to a request from one of the UK’s major utility
businesses for a simple, effective and reliable solution for lifting and
lowering sewage pumps in and out of deep access shafts. The customer’s existing
block and tackle davit equipment was proving to be unreliable and prone to
damage under load. Engineers had to complete each lift in stages by hand which
was tiring, cumbersome and inefficient. Although the customer has vehicle
mounted electric cranes it is not always possible to use these if the access
shaft was in a difficult position.
A portable device offered a better potential solution and Penny Hydraulics
met the customer’s requirement by developing the Davit Crane. It is manufactured
in two pieces from durable aluminium for the best possible combination of low
weight and high strength. The whole crane, including winch, weighs 47kg when
fully assembled. The unit is mounted into a simple socket adjacent to the access
shaft and can be disassembled for easy carrying and transport when not in use.
The largest sub-assembly weighs just 24kg, which means all components can be
carried within the existing manual handling regulations.
The Davit Crane incorporates a powerful electric winch mounted at the end of
the longer boom which allows loads of up to 500kg to be lowered as much as 16m
(50ft) below ground level. Power is supplied from any vehicle using jump leads
or a standard electric service socket. A wander lead enables remote control so
that operatives can stand clear of moving parts during lifting operations for
the best possible safety. The Davit Crane can also be used with standard block
and tackle if preferred or when power is unavailable. A socket can be supplied
with the Davit Crane for installation at the access shaft if one is not already
present.
==============================
PRESS INFORMATION (TOP)
Issue Date: 26 February 2008
Ref: PEN08/06
NEW LOAD HANDLING CAPABILITIES FOR NISSAN LCV
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select save)
Nissan’s commercial vehicle customers in the UK can now specify and purchase
vehicle mounted cranes and platform lifts from Penny Hydraulics through their
local dealer following an agreement between the two companies. Any combination
of Nissan light commercial vehicle and Penny Hydraulics product is available to
provide customers with complete flexibility to choose a solution matched to
their needs from a single source.
“The combination of Nissan commercial vehicles and Penny Hydraulics load
handling equipment provides our customers with a highly effective solution based
on market leading products,” says Mark Lovett, Sales and Marketing Manager for
Nissan Commercial Vehicles in the UK. “We are currently in the process of
growing our commercial vehicle dealer network to reach more customers and
offering bespoke adaptations that add value to our vehicles. This agreement
gives our customers a one-stop-shop for their load handling requirements and
helps our specialist dealer network to offer something locally that some other
manufacturers cannot.”
Penny Hydraulics designs and manufactures a wide range of vehicle mounted
handling equipment including Swing Lift cranes for loads up to 2000kg and rear
and side mounted platform lifts for loads up to 550kg. These are widely used to
support delivery, service and engineering applications where they help operators
to handle loads safely and efficiently and comply with manual handling
regulations. The company has prepared two Nissan demonstrators - a Nissan Pickup
has been equipped with a Swing Lift Miniloader 250 crane and Easyloader Tail
Lift while a Nissan Cabstar has the higher capacity Foldaway 500 and V Range
cranes as well as an Easyloader Tail Lift. These demonstrators will be available
at Nissan Commercial Vehicle Dealers during 2008 to introduce the companies’
joint capabilities to local customers.
Nissan Commercial Vehicles started to develop its network of specialist
commercial vehicle dealers in the UK back in April 2007 and expects to have
around 50 in operation by the end of 2008. Dealerships are staffed by specially
trained professional sales people with a wealth of experience and who can
respond swiftly to the needs of both fleet and local business operators running
light commercial vehicles.
“There is tremendous synergy between the two companies and we can offer an
excellent combination which represents good value for a wide range of customers
who need to handle loads on and off their vehicle,” says Richard Short, Sales
Director at Penny Hydraulics. “The partnership with Nissan and the presence of
the new demonstration vehicles are very important to Penny Hydraulics. The
renowned off road capability and robust build quality of the Nissan LCV range
provides an excellent platform to demonstrate the unique Easyloader Tail Lift
and Swing Lift cranes. Utility customers often have to go off-road in order to
service equipment while builders typically need to unload at site. The new range
of lifting equipment designed for the Nissan LCVs helps us to satisfy the needs
of our customers from large fleets to sole traders.”
Penny Hydraulics and Nissan Commercial Vehicles have produced a brochure
which highlights their joint capabilities. Copies can be downloaded from the
Penny Hydraulics website at www.pennyhydraulics.com where there is also a
special section dedicated to the vehicles and products available.
==============================
PRESS INFORMATION (TOP)
Issue Date: 20 February 2008
Ref: PEN08/03
NEW PRODUCTS AND PARTNERSHIPS FROM PENNY HYDRAULICS AT CV SHOW 2008
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select save)
Penny Hydraulics (Stand 8-140) highlights its comprehensive range of vehicle
mounted load handling equipment at CV Show with a display that includes vehicles
prepared for major customers, innovative products including new variations of
its Swing Lift cranes, and special demonstrators to highlight a new partnership
with a leading manufacturer.
Products previewed on stand are expected to include new versions of the
company’s successful two metre Knuckle Joint, 500kg and 1000kg Swing Lift
cranes. A totally new frame design and inclusion of hydraulic slew and hydraulic
boom extension should make these new cranes among the most compact and powerful
in their respective classes. The Swing Lift range, with capacities up to 2000kg,
is widely used by commercial vehicle operators who need to handle loads
efficiently and eliminate manual handling to comply with health and safety
regulations.
One of the four vehicles on display will be a Royal Mail LDV equipped with a
special version of the Penny Hydraulics Load Lift. This versatile load handling
device is used by Royal Mail to load and unload special wheeled cages, weighing
250kg, used to transfer postal items between principal sorting offices. It
allows postal workers to manage large volumes of mail efficiently and
economically without the need for repetitive manual handling.
Penny Hydraulics will also introduce its latest demonstrator vehicle that is
part of a new partnership with Nissan Commercial Vehicles UK. The Nissan Cabstar
has been equipped with Penny Hydraulics Foldaway 500 and V Range cranes as well
as an Easyloader Tail Lift to illustrate the variety of options and combinations
available to customers through their local Nissan Commercial Vehicle dealer.
Penny Hydraulics already has a Nissan demonstrator, a Pickup with a Penny
Hydraulics Swing Lift Miniloader 250 crane and Easyloader Tail Lift,
highlighting the robust construction and off-road capabilities of both products.
==============================
PRESS INFORMATION (TOP)
Issue Date: 7 February 2008
Ref: PEN08/01
HODSOCK PRIORY SELECTS CELLAR LIFT
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select save)
When historic Hodsock Priory in Nottinghamshire extended its wedding
reception facilities during 2007 it selected a Cellar Lift from Penny Hydraulics
for handling drinks and related items between the delivery area and a much older
cellar beneath the new building. The Cellar Lift has enabled Hodsock Priory to
simplify its cellar operations and eliminated the need for busy staff to handle
items manually.
“The Cellar Lift allows us to comply with manual handling regulations,” says
George Buchanan, owner of Hodsock Priory. “Penny Hydraulics is a very slick
company who provided exactly what we needed and most crucially slotted into a
tight timeframe which suited our requirements.”
Located near Worksop, Hodsock Priory (www.hodsockpriory.com) has been the
home of the same family since 1765. Current occupants George and Katharine
Buchanan are the ninth generation of the family to care for the property which
is famous for its annual display of snowdrops (www.snowdrops.co.uk) each spring.
Recently the Buchanans decided that the buildings were no longer practical as
their permanent residence but had excellent potential as a venue for weddings,
conferences and other events that would generate income throughout the year.
Work on the extension to the existing buildings started early in 2007. Bar
operations are crucial to any successful wedding day and one of the primary
concerns during the design stage was to ensure that staff would be able to
handle drink items safely and easily between the delivery area and an older
cellar below which dates back to the 16th century. A mechanical cellar lift had
been on the brief from the start and at the suggestion of architect Philip
Siddall of Guy Taylor Associates, the Buchanans approached Penny Hydraulics for
a solution.
After assessing the requirement Penny Hydraulics recommended one of its
vertical Cellar Lifts and provided details to the principal contractor of the
services required to complete the installation. Working to the overall brief the
company installed the equipment and completed the work on schedule. The gardens
reopened on the first of February for the world renowned snowdrop display.
Penny Hydraulics slotted in with the day we wanted the work doing and
installed the equipment in a single morning,” says George Buchanan. “A lot of
the other contractors we used have turned up and asked us to do more work before
they could do theirs. But with Penny Hydraulics this was not the case.”
The cellar stores all drinks including champagne, wine and beer required for
wedding receptions and other events. When a beer barrel is delivered it is
simply rolled onto the Cellar Lift’s integral cradle where it is supported
safely and securely while the lift is moving. A tray is mounted on the cradle so
that packs and cases of drinks and related items can be handled more
conveniently whenever required. In addition to handling deliveries the Cellar
Lift can be used to lift items from the cellar up to ground floor level during
an event to eliminate the need for staff to carry items up the steps.
Penny Hydraulics provided a complete installation and commissioning service
that included training three members of the Hodsock Priory staff on how to use
the Cellar Lift and carry out routine inspection and maintenance tasks. The
company offers comprehensive service packages with all its equipment.
“They offered good training to three people, including me, who can now train
our other members of staff,” says George Buchanan. “They also made us aware of
daily and routine inspection and maintenance tasks to make sure we stay within
the regulations.”
The Penny Hydraulics Cellar Lift is designed for safe and reliable handling
of beer barrels, kegs, crates, bins and groceries between the cellar, delivery
and serving area in bars, pubs and restaurants. The range includes vertical,
sloping and compact models with lifting capacity up to 300kg, equivalent to a
full 54 gallon barrel. It is manufactured in the UK to the precise requirements
of the specific location and customer.
The rapid lifting and lowering speed of 0.75m/s means that an average 2.5
metre drop is covered in just five seconds to help minimise delivery cycle
times. A hold-to-run system cuts power and stops the lift whenever the user
releases the control lever for optimum safety. Components are fully galvanised
for durability in the most arduous conditions, including damp cellars and
exposed exterior locations. The Cellar Lift can be installed in almost any
location. There is no need to excavate a lift pit at the base and the unique
hydraulic mechanism means the Cellar Lift is quiet, simple and reliable. It runs
off a standard 20 amp, 240 volt supply which means that it can be installed in
most locations with little or no additional electrical work.
==============================
BACKGROUND INFORMATION (TOP)
Penny Hydraulics (www.pennyhydraulics.com)
designs and manufactures lifting and load handling equipment for use in a wide
range of applications. Products include the Swing Lift range of medium duty
cranes for use on pick-ups, drop-sides and flat-beds and the Step Lift, Load
Lift and Tail Lift lifting platform ranges for use on pick-ups, drop-sides and
vans. The company also manufactures the Mezz Lift for handling loads between
ground floor and mezzanines and specialist equipment for handling wheels, tyres
and barrels in vehicles and at customers’ premises. Penny Hydraulics is a
privately owned family business based in Clowne, Derbyshire.
===============================
For further press information, please contact
(TOP):
Richard Short
Sales Director
Penny Hydraulics
T: 01246 811475
www.pennyhydraulics.com
Keith Wootton
Public Relations Consultant
T: 01327 830675
penny@keithwootton.co.uk
===============================
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