Replacing heavy cooling equipment inside a temperature-controlled food warehouse creates a very particular lifting challenge. Access is limited, working room is tight and any equipment used indoors needs to suit a clean environment without disrupting the ongoing operations.
An electric Valla V130RX pick and carry crane provided the solution for a recent chiller replacement in Kettering, Northamptonshire. The existing unit weighed 2.1 tonnes and was positioned on a raised internal platform, with the crane needing to work from the warehouse access route to remove it before a new 900kg chiller could be lifted into place.
At just 1,525mm wide and 1,981mm high, the V130RX could travel through the restricted warehouse environment and be positioned close to the work area. Its chassis could then be extended from around 3.7m to 4.4m, increasing stability and lifting capability for the task ahead.
With the fly jib deployed and chassis extended, the crane could work at the reach required to handle the chiller safely from the access route. Crucially, the V130RX remained compact enough for warehouse traffic to continue alongside the lifting operation, helping to avoid closure of routes to the facility.
Its 100% electric power was another important part of the specification. With no exhaust fumes and near-silent operation, the V130RX is well suited to food production, manufacturing and other indoor environments where clean operation matters. Wireless remote control allowed the operator to choose the best position around the lift for visibility rather than being tied to a fixed cab.
This kind of application shows what makes the Valla V130RX different. Its extending chassis allows the crane to combine compact access with up to 13 tonnes maximum lifting capacity, giving businesses a highly adaptable option for supporting machinery installation, factory maintenance and other specialist industrial lifts.