JCB turn to ABUS for 98% uptime

In letting the tender for a recent production area reorganisation / upgrade, JCB demanded the sort of supplier quality, which they look to offer as a market leader in their class.

Within a very tight timescale, over 40 top running overhead cranes and 300+ tones of gantry steel were to be supplied to their Cheadle site. If delivery deadlines could be met, the cranes then had to offer ‘98% uptime’, to interfere as little as possible with production.

JCB turned to ABUS Crane Systems, one of the world’s leading crane manufacturers to achieve these goals.

The 4 year basic guarantee and ISO9001 manufacturing quality system of ABUS offered the very high levels of equipment quality required. The customer service levels and installation experience gained from similar installations in over 50 markets world-wide meant that not only were the tight deadlines achieved by ABUS, but there was enough flexibility within the programme to allow JCB a complete re-design of one of the gantries during its production.

Although the deadlines were tight, ABUS did not skimp on innovation to provide JCB with state of the art cranage. Cross bridge power supply via newly developed power chain both reduced side approaches and ensured no snagging problems as may occur with traditional festooning. The innovative new ABUS LIS load indication system allowed each push button pendant a digital readout which shows at all times how much weight is on the crane hook.

Cranes on the same gantry run were also supplied with an photo-electric anti-collision device, which is designed to slow or stop cranes prior to collision at an adjustable set distance apart.

Actions speak louder than words and a further order for an additional 8 ABUS crane systems for a separate area of the factory underlines the commitment of JCB to the highest quality in its manufacturing facility.