Today's loaders can massively increase vehicle flexibility, dealing with a wider variety of loads in more locations than ever before. But just as important is the operator: even with today’s automated stability and positioning systems, the he or she needs training and experience.
Loaders cover a wide range of capacities: Italian manufacturer Fassi, for example, classifies its cranes in the 1 tonne-metre to 12 tonne-metre (1—12tm) range as ‘light-duty’, 13—36tm as ‘medium-duty’ and 38—195tm as ‘heavy-duty’. The heaviest loaders are encroaching on crane truck territory. But manual handling regulations mean that even lighter-duty models are viable: Penny Hydraulics, for example, offers the PH50 for mounting to small chassis-cabs or even all-terrain vehicles, with a capacity of just 0.5tm (500kg at 980mm), but weighing as little as 74kg.
There is fierce competition in the 50tm class, with the major manufacturers launching high-capacity cranes, which still fit on a six-wheeler. HIAB has the X-HiPro 558, which the firm says, at 49.6tm has “20% more lifting power than other cranes of equivalent size”. Meanwhile, Fassi offers the F545RA xe-dynamic, with a capacity of up to 52.8tm. It’s not easy to compare like with like — there are myriad options of outreach and winch and jib attachments — but each weighs in at around 5 tonnes, plus another tonne for the stabilisers, leaving a decent load capacity on a 26-tonner.
One operator with a wide range of experience is Daniel Forrest, owner of Shepperton-based Forrest Industrial. He has just removed a vandalised fountain from Regent’s Park using the 27tm Fassi on his 6x4 Scania drawbar.
“Everything is about safety,” says Forrest. “You can’t take risks; you can’t cut corners; you have to play it by the book.” Arriving at a site, the first task is checking for overhead lines, structures and trees --“Anything above you is a danger” – then checking the ground is hard and stable.
Positioning is vital: “First you check for reach, then slew round to make sure you’ve got a clear area to work in. Operating it is so much about experience, and knowing what your crane is capable of,” says Forrest. “One day you could be in a factory with a low roof, and the next you could be lifting something really delicate.”
Technical developments
There has been little significant change in the mechanical design of loaders in recent years, although high-strength steels have improved power-to-weight ratios. That said, while most manufacturers use a single-beam design for all but the largest models, Cormach is unusual in using a twin-beam design even in its smaller cranes. The firm claims it is resistant to torsional loads and distributes stresses more evenly through the large-diameter slew bearing.
Meanwhile, Effer’s V-Stab and XV-Stab stabiliser systems are designed to give shorter trucks excellent stability and capacity without having to mount stabilisers ahead of the cab, or drastically modifying the bodywork. Its jacks are mounted on diagonally-splayed arms fore and aft, and each pair is connected by a substantial subframe. Effer says the front-mounted V-Stab setup increases the maximum-weight working area by 35% compared to traditional front stabilisers.
The biggest recent development has been in electronic stability controls. Typical is Fassi Stability Control, introduced more than five years ago. This system verifies position of the outriggers and inclination of the crane axis. The system also takes into account vehicle weight, including any ballast. Latest models can include winches, jibs and manual extensions in their calculations.
Fassi’s ADC (automatic dynamic control) uses inclination and load sensors to maximise the speed at which the crane moves, “allowing only controlled movements and minimising the structural stress on the crane and the frame/subframe”. Similarly, HIAB offers VSLPLUS, which uses the position of the stabilisers and overall truck weight to determine maximum safe capacity, and BDA (boom deployment assistant) to monitor the angle and position of the boom during folding and unfolding.
Other functions being added include Fassi’s GAS (grab automatic shake), which unloads the grab smoothly while compensating for load on the other hydraulics. And remote controls are even being offered on the smallest cranes, such as HIAB’s T-HIDUO 013, a 1.2tm unit for chassis-cab LCVs.
It's worth remembering also that cranes can be used for working at height, via either a hanging man-carrying basket or a self-levelling platform. Effer reckons its Pro.Dec (progressive deceleration) system makes this more comfortable. Hydraulic shock absorbers at the internal end of the extension cylinders cancel oscillations and eliminate bumps.
Loaded regulations
Understandably, lorry loaders are highly regulated. Fleet engineers may well be familiar with LOLER [Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment] and PUWER [Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations]. However, cranes and loaders also come under Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC, which covers safety even for chain slings and lifting eyelets.
Fleet engineers might want to bear in mind the HSE’s guidance on ‘Who has responsibilities under the Machinery Directive’. It states: ‘Users who make machinery for their own use also have the manufacturers' responsibilities for CE marking and compliance with the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations’.
LOLER defines the concept of an ‘appointed person’, who has overall control of each lifting operation to ensure safety. The trade body for loaders is ALLMI (Association of Lorry Loader Manufacturers and Importers), which publishes a ‘Best Practice Guide for the Safe Use of Lorry Loaders’, produced with the CPA (Construction Plant-Hire Association). Its guide includes a useful explanation of how to categorise lifting jobs.
ALLMI offers specialist courses for appointed persons as well as for operators and slinger/signallers. It also runs training in LOLER thorough examinations. Additionally, ALLMI provides accreditation for trainers, and offers a training DVD, while similarly, Fassi has an online training scheme with generic content.
Tracie Sherratt is managing director of Central Hydraulic Loaders, and says training should involve a full course “from a known source, as well as product familiarisation”. CHL supplies 70—100 PM and Atlas loader-equipped trucks each year, and builds a specific subframe for each. Note that Whole Vehicle Type Approval does not affect crane installation, aside from masses and dimensions.
Sherratt emphasises regular inspection and maintenance “starting with the operator’s daily inspection, annual inspection and tests to be carried out by a competent person. And at four years and eight years, full inspection and test”. Daniel Forrest, of Forrest Industrial, says daily inspection involves checking “for visible defects, that there are no leaks, everything is shut up and is where it should be. I check the hook for damage, and that it’s free-moving”. Cranes are also lubricated weekly.
Sherratt makes the point that electronics can fail – particularly during the winter – and problems might come from hydraulics. However, he adds that loaders rarely go wrong. The worst occurrences used to be hitting bridges or using the crane without stabilisers. “Both issues are now very rare, as current safety systems prohibit the operation that causes the incident.”