05.09.2025

Animated safety

A new children's animation series featuring Cherry Picker Pete will debut later this year targeting children aged four and above. It aims to teach construction safety through animated characters and real machinery.

Created by lifting industry veteran Peter Hird and his family, the series introduces children to construction safety through fun characters and animation. The show features Pete, an expert who leads a team of animated machines and people to solve challenges on real world job sites.

The series also includes a collaboration with Wolffkran, introducing Wolffy, a red tower crane character who serves as mentor for the team. The show will feature various lifting equipment including boom lifts, scissor lifts, tower cranes, pick and carry cranes, mobile cranes and forklifts.

Cherry Picker Pete will debut with two introductory episodes in the next few months, followed by a full 26 episode series rolling out next year. The creators plan to work with education authorities to align with learning objectives and expand reach into schools, training programmes, and industry events.

School visits will be scheduled featuring interactive Wolffy crane models, giving children the chance to explore lifting concepts through hands on play, storytelling, and safety activities. The brand will also launch children's books, educational toys, branded clothing, and themed merchandise.

Peter Hird said: "We aim to plant the seeds from a young age and attract the youth to the lifting industries. By capturing their imagination early, we hope to inspire the next generation of skilled, safety conscious crane and cherry picker operators, riggers, and engineers."

Wolffkran chief executive Duncan Salt said: "Partnering with Cherry Picker Pete allows us to engage with future generations and promote the importance of lifting safety in a fun and inspiring way. We're proud to see Wolffy carry the Wolffkran legacy into children's hearts and homes."