Two of UNIC Cranes Europe’s mini spider cranes are helping to keep the Royal Air Force’s helicopter fleet in perfect working order by providing some essential lifting power at Camp Bastion and RAF Odiham. UNIC compact cranes are being used to carry out vital maintenance and repair work on Chinook helicopters at the main British military base in Afghanistan as well as at the RAF station in Hampshire.
The Ministry of Defence purchased two of these miniature machines in late 2012 from UNIC Cranes Europe through a major contract with airfield equipment providers Terberg DTS UK. The 2.9 tonne capacity UNIC URW-376 spider cranes are most commonly used for lifting operations in the construction and glazing industries worldwide, however these bespoke machines used by British Forces were modified especially for military lifting operations and put through a rigorous testing procedure by the Ministry of Defence.
Quick to set-up and easily manoeuvrable across uneven terrain thanks to a tracked carriage and multi-positionable outriggers, these camouflaged mini cranes feature a stealth mode for working behind enemy lines where audio alerts can be turned off and operating lights dimmed down. At just 1.3 metres wide and 3850kg, the UNIC URW-376 model is extremely portable so can be transported inside aircraft or slung underneath using chains and cargo nets.
Flt Lt Gareth Winn-Morgan, Chinook Junior Engineering Officer in theatre, said, “Since its purchase, the crane has been a key factor to sustaining Chinook operations on Operation Herrick. It gives engineers added flexibility when removing heavy components from the aircraft; before the aircraft would be towed into a hangar to utilise the gantry cranes; with the spider crane the engineers can carry out heavy maintenance on the flight line, saving valuable time.”
Since UNIC spider cranes have put in such an impressive performance at Camp Bastion, the Ministry of Defence are considering investing in more mini cranes to work in the field handling heavy machinery and aircraft parts precisely and safely.
To find out more about UNIC Cranes Europe and their range of mini spider cranes visit www.unic-cranes.co.uk
Notes for Editors
UNIC Cranes Europe, part of GGR Group Ltd, is the European distributor for Furukawa UNIC (Japan), specializing in the supply of mini spider cranes across 27 European countries.
Unic mini spider cranes are compact enough to fit through a standard doorway making them ideal for lifting in restricted access and confined working environments. There are 9 models currently available, ranging from 0.995 t to 10 tonnes in capacity.
The GGR Group, consists of seven brands –Unic Cranes Europe, GGR Glass, GGR Galizia, GGR AirLift, GGR Cladding, GGR Rail and now GGR Gulf. The GGR Group is currently Europe’s leading supplier of vacuum handling equipment, restricted access lifting machinery and mini cranes for sale and hire, along with a variety of complementary products and services.
For more information visit www.unic-cranes.co.uk or call +44 (0) 1844 202 071
The GGR Group is an official corporate sponsor of the 2013 Help for Heroes 4×4 European Rally, after supporting the 2012 rally which has raised over £500,000 for the charity. To donate or find out more information about the event visit www.h4hrally.co.uk
Author:
Editorial Contact:
Kerry Edwards
PR and Marketing Coordinator
Kerry.edwards@ggrgroup.com
+44 (0)161 683 2580
