The market for mini cranes is broad. There are numerous brands and manufacturers, including SPT, Maeda, Hoeflon, Jekko, and many more; all with different models in a wide range of colours and sizes, with electric, combi (hybrid), diesel or petrol drive and special additional functions. Sometimes more emphasis is placed on the total weight, then on the maximum lifting height and load capacity. The range is huge. It is up to the professional to filter out the really important product features from this wealth of information. In this blog post, Uplifter product manager and crane specialist Dominik has listed the 12 most important product advantages that a mini crane should fulfil.
1. all attachments and equipment on the crane should be able to be mounted by only one person and in the shortest possible time. This saves you time, keeps you flexible on the construction site and minimises labour costs! TIP: Pay attention to how you can change the hoisting rope! Ideally, this can be done by just one person. How quickly can the fixed hook be assembled/disassembled? Here, (dis)assembly by means of bolts and not via screws is recommended.
2. can the crane technology reduce damage caused by slack rope formation from the outset?
3. the fly jib (or "knuckle boom") should be able to be used without restrictions. Therefore, before buying a crane, be sure to check whether you have to consider the angle of the main boom when working with fly jib or whether you can really use the jib without restrictions. Fly jib and safety device on the main boom should also be able to be operated in parallel. Ideally, a fully hydraulic fly jib is in use.
4. How quickly and easily can service be carried out on the small and compact crane? Look for service-friendly models! There should be enough space for repair and maintenance on the crane, especially for service work around the winch, there is often little space here due to the compact design! The components must be easily accessible and ideally the same engine technology is installed in all cranes of a manufacturer. This means that no extra spare parts or new training are necessary.
5. How time-consuming is fault diagnosis on the unit? Do you need expensive special equipment to be able to read out errors or is the diagnosis immediately shown on the display?
6. how robust are the sensors? Length and angle sensors in particular are sensitive and susceptible to damage. Therefore, they should never be installed outside.
7. do you have sufficient storage space directly at the machine, for example for a 1-jet bottle?
8. can you operate the crane intuitively, even without any experience in crane technology? Easy and simple operation of the mini crane is essential for successful operations on the construction site and in industry. The display on the radio remote control and on the crane must be easy to understand and the display user-friendly. In addition, all functions should be controllable via the radio remote control as well as manually. In this way, efficient instruction can take place.
9. do you have influence on the speed of the crane movements and can you configure them quickly according to your preferences and wishes? How sensitive is the control system?
10. can the mini crane be quickly levelled even on uneven ground or is it even self-levelling?
11. how easy is it to load the mini crane? Do you need ramps? Or can the mini crane also be conveniently loaded with a forklift truck? Special mounting holes for the forklift tines are very helpful and enable particularly comfortable and safe loading and unloading of the device. In addition, it is important to know whether the crane can also be driven with a radio remote control and not only crane operation is possible.
12. have you ever heard of a black box? That's right, these are normally used in aircraft. Nowadays, innovative mini cranes are equipped with a black box and data logger. The complete working life of your mini crane is recorded. Just think about the countless advantages this brings you!
These 12 product advantages are Uplifter's claim. We are proud to announce that the Uplifter SPT mini crane models fulfil 12 out of 12 of these advantages, which make us the market leader in crane construction. Discover our mini crane range and be inspired by these and other product features during a crane demonstration.
Uplifter has been a successful crane specialist for more than 20 years and has an international distribution network that ensures fast availability of machines worldwide. Our secret of success? We are unique in the industry! At Uplifter, all departments work hand in hand. In our rental park, mini cranes, glass suction cups and glassworkers are in daily use. Our machine operators provide us with experience, suggestions for improvement and solutions directly from the place of use on the construction site. Our in-house service department carries out all maintenance, repairs and inspections on the equipment and constantly contributes to optimisation. The heart of our company is our production department in Nabburg, where ideas and visions are developed and produced into prototypes and finally into series-produced product innovations according to customer requirements. Uplifter has the know-how for sustainable developments. Make your enquiry now on the subject of special machine construction.
