06.11.2006

1,000 Penny's at BT

More than 1,000 compact cranes supplied by Penny Hydraulics have now been installed on vehicles owned by BT Fleet. The majority of the 100kg capacity Mini-loader cranes are fitted on one tonne box body vehicles used by the BT Group.

The Miniloader is a lightweight and compact crane designed for pick-ups, drop-sides, flat-beds or vans without affecting the storage area and carrying capacity. It folds away when not in use while an optional below-floor mounting allows it to be removed easily for transfer to another vehicle or to revert the load area to a conventional unobstructed flat floor. Remote control and overload protection are standard.

BT has been installing the cranes since 2001 for a range of tasks and where regulations dictate cranes must be used to avoid manual handling.

Penny Hydraulics modified its Miniloader crane with a shorter boom and a less powerful winch to reflect the maximum weight of loads to be handled and making it lighter and simpler to manufacture. This redesign in conjunction with modern production techniques led to the unit price for each crane being reduced to less than £500.

One of the features of the crane that particularly appealed to BT Fleet was the patented overload device on the electric winchwhich continuously measures the force on the winch drum. Penny Hydraulics claims its Miniloader is the only crane on the market with this type of protection.