When a critical production press fails, every hour of downtime matters. For one North-East manufacturer, a damaged roller brought production to a standstill, creating an urgent need to remove the failed component, get it repaired and return the press to service as quickly as possible.
KC Machine Movers Ltd responded within 24 hours, using a Valla 180 E electric pick and carry crane to remove the damaged roller from the press so it could be repaired before being returned and reinstalled.
Speed was only part of the challenge. The roller had to be lifted and moved within an active factory environment, where surrounding machinery, structural columns and internal access all influenced how the operation could be carried out.
That is where the Valla suited the job. Rather than lifting from one fixed position, the pick and carry crane could take the roller on the hook and move it through the factory, giving the machinery moving team greater freedom to work around the existing production layout.
Its battery-electric power was also relevant inside the building, removing exhaust emissions from the working area. At the same time, the compact chassis brought 18 tonnes of maximum lifting capacity into an area where using a larger conventional crane would have been far less practical.
Based in the North East, KC Machine Movers specialises in machinery installation, factory relocations and specialist lifting for manufacturing and industrial businesses. That experience was particularly relevant on this job, where the roller had to be lifted and moved within an existing factory environment, with tight access and live production nearby.
The Valla 180 E used on the job was hired in from one of a growing number of UK rental companies that trust Valla to provide their customers with outstanding lifting performance. That growing rental presence is making high-capacity electric pick and carry cranes more accessible for machinery movers and industrial contractors that need specialist lifting equipment for specific projects.
With the damaged roller removed, repaired and returned for installation, the press could be brought back into service without unnecessary additional downtime. The project shows why Valla pick and carry cranes are often used for reactive maintenance, where rapid mobilisation, indoor operation and the ability to move heavy components through restricted factory environments can matter just as much as lifting capacity.