Cargotec to Provide 24 New Hiab Loader Cranes and Service Package

Burdens Ltd., a leading supplier of civil engineering and building materials, has ordered 24 new Cargotec Hiab loader cranes. Cargotec won the business due to low lifetime cost of ownership and a service agreement to include maintenance of the incumbent fleet.

Following a review of its current lifting requirements and a thorough assessment of the UK crane market, Burdens decided to add the 24 Hiab XS 166B-2 HiDuo loader cranes to its existing materials handling capability. The machines will be put to work across Burdens' nationwide network of 46 depots and will join a total fleet of approximately 150 loader cranes. The deal also incorporates a major service agreement which includes maintenance of the entire fleet, including existing machines from other suppliers.

Burdens has provided a distribution platform for the building and civil engineering industry for the past 75 years, and now operates throughout the UK, Ireland, and internationally. With a turnover in excess of £300m ($492 million U.S.) and employing 1,100 people, its customer base includes major civil engineering and construction companies, house-builders, local authorities, public water companies, and a wide range of specialist contractors and sub-contractors in the infrastructure support sector.

With this extensive network to serve, Burdens had very specific criteria when selecting the new cranes. These included build quality, performance, low lifetime cost, environmental credentials and safety. Equally crucial, however, was the need for a single-source supplier that could also provide effective service support throughout UK and Ireland—and on a fleet of mixed equipment. Cargotec and its Hiab XS 166B-2 HiDuo loader crane were chosen to meet these requirements.

“The decision to use Cargotec represents a big change for us,” said Ryan Coles, Group Transport and Safety Officer for Burdens. “After many years with other suppliers, we are changing both the wagon and crane at the same time. However, the savings on lifetime costs and a comprehensive, cost-effective service maintenance agreement made this the right decision for our future. For me, what really sets Hiab apart is that its products add true innovation and sit at the cutting-edge, mirroring our own company values."

Rear-mounted onto a new fleet of Mercedes-Benz Actros wagons, Burdens' new Hiab XS 166 models offer 8.4 metres of reach with a lift capacity of 2 tonnes excluding the grab. The XS 166 has been designed for flexibility and high throughput. The slewing mechanism runs in an oil bath, ensuring constant lubrication, reducing heat and friction for smooth, precise running under load. Everything is focused on providing a safe and easy-to-use crane with a quick return on initial investment.

A key feature of the model is the HiDuo control system which comes with XSDrive remote control to help prevent stress and strain on the operator while the SPACE 4000 system intelligently assists users when operating the crane. Under extensive onsite testing, Burdens found the control system particularly user friendly as its intuitive controls enable pin-point precision when loading and unloading.

As with all Hiab loader cranes, the XS 166 is equipped with one of the most advanced safety systems available, the Variable Stability Limit (VSL). The system is fully compliant with the new machinery directive (2006/42EC) and harmonized loader crane standard EN 12999. Its major advantage is that it allows safe operation of the crane when there is not enough space to fully extend one or both stabilizer legs. In some cases, VSL can push the stability limit further and extend the work area.

When selecting its new loader crane fleet, Burdens strove to enhance its green credentials. The Hiab XS range comes with features designed to reduce impact on the environment, such as the control system which actively reduces the load on the wagon's engine, significantly lowering fuel use and CO2 emissions. The Hiab cranes supplied to Burdens have also been fitted with optional filter clean kits which dramatically drop oil and filter changes from every 12 months to approximately once every five or six years.

“Cargotec is proven to offer unrivalled levels of service support world-wide and this is the foundation of our maintenance package with Burdens,” said Karl Love, service sales manager for Cargotec UK. “With vast experience, skill, and training in maintaining a non-core product fleet, we are able to provide our customer with one point of contact whatever the make or model that needs maintenance. Furthermore, while lifetime costs have always been at the forefront of a professional transport manager's mind, here we have provided a complete solution which also factors in safety, quality, and the environment, delivering significant added value."