The Requirements
A local refrigeration and electrical contractor approached Hoist UK seeking an overhead lifting solution for their fabrication workshop. The business required a crane system to support general fabrication and assembly activities within their newly occupied building.
The customer required full coverage across the workshop to allow safe and efficient handling of materials and fabricated components. It was essential that forklift operations could continue beneath the crane structure without restriction, ensuring flexibility within the working environment.
Hoist UK was appointed to provide a complete solution, including site survey, design, manufacture, installation and commissioning.
The primary design consideration was achieving maximum crane coverage across the workshop while maintaining clear access for forklift movement throughout the building.
To accommodate this requirement, the gantry steelwork was carefully designed around the existing building layout. Compound columns were engineered to eliminate the need for bracing between legs, allowing unrestricted travel beneath the runway structure.
Precise site measurement and design coordination were required to ensure the crane system fit within the available space while delivering optimal lifting height and operational efficiency.
The Solution
Hoist UK supplied and installed a top running overhead crane complete with a Verlinde VT2 wire rope hoist.
The crane was specified with a rated capacity of 5,000 kg and a span of 10.8 metres, operating on a 16.7 metre runway. The freestanding gantry steelwork was manufactured in-house and designed specifically to suit the customer’s building layout, with a structure height of approximately 4.85 metres and a height of lift of approximately 4.67 metres.
The Verlinde VT2 hoist provided dual hoisting speeds of 4 and 0.7 metres per minute, delivering true vertical lift via a 4 fall reeving arrangement. Cross travel speeds of 5 and 20 metres per minute and long travel speeds of 8 and 32 metres per minute were achieved through inverter controlled variable speed drives, allowing smooth and controlled movement of the load.
The crane was supplied with radio control for wireless operation, along with a “plug and play” back- cabled pendant system. Long travel and cross travel limit switches were incorporated to provide controlled slow-down and stop functions.
The freestanding gantry legs were secured to the existing concrete floor using resin anchors.
Project Photo's
Hoist UK
“It has been rewarding to support this project from the initial site visit through to final installation and commissioning. Seeing the workshop fully operational with a lifting solution designed specifically around the building layout was a great outcome for everyone involved.
Hoist UK will continue to support the customer with ongoing LOLER inspections to ensure continued safe and compliant operation of the lifting equipment.”