31.07.2013

E H Smith reinvests in Hiabs

UK building and timber merchant E H Smith has placed an order for four Hiab XS loader cranes mounted on new DAF trucks.

The new cranes include three XS 144 B-2 Hi Duo models and a larger XS 166 model – all of which have been fitted with Kinshofer brick grabs. The XS144 can lift 5,000kg at 2.9 metres and 1,750kg at 8.1 metres where as the XS166 can lift 5,600kg at a radius of three metres and 2,000kg at 8.1 metres.

Andy Webb, director of production for E H Smith, said: "Four years ago we invited four crane manufacturers to demonstrate their products to us, of which Hiab was one. At that time we chose another make but put one Hiab into service two years later to compare its performance."
Please register to see all images

The primary tasks of the new machines will be the delivery of bricks and blocks as well as supporting an expansion of the firm's activities into the paving and hard landscaping products field

Since its initial purchase the company has taken delivery of three more Hiab cranes and has now placed this order for a further four.

Webb added: “The main thing that has impressed us throughout the time that we've been operating the Hiab is the significantly reduced amount of downtime that we've experienced when compared with other makes in our fleet. I think that this comes down in part to the way that Hiab have simplified the mechanisms and control systems on their XS range. We're using these for fairly straightforward brick and block delivery work for which they're very well suited, with a good capacity and a long reach.”