On the move: BPW increases investment into UK and choose ABUS Crane Systems to support them
Following a multi-million-pound investment, trailer technology provider BPW - Europe's Leading Axle and Suspension Manufacturer – (www.bpw.co.uk) has now completed the first phase of its expansion plan to introduce an axle assembly line into its site in Leicester, meaning its axles will be engineered in Germany and built in Britain.
Having assembled over 250,000 suspensions to axles in the UK over the last 10 years, the investment will significantly increase the manufacturing scope and scale of its UK operation.
With the first axles produced in September 2020, the new assembly line, with its fully trained production team, allows BPW UK greater flexibility in terms of specific axle requirements, and reduces risks of cross border supply after the Brexit transition period ends.
Until now the UK’s axles have been assembled in the company’s mainland Europe production sites. For BPW KG to move the assembly of axles into the hands of the UK reflects the loyalty that it has to the market, and further endorses the company’s willingness to invest long term in UK trailer manufacturing and the transport sector.
ABUS Cranes multi-tasking:
To aid the manufacture of the axles in the UK ABUS Crane Systems Ltd have supplied two multi-bridge light crane systems with capacities of 250 kg, 500 kg and 630 kg and also an 800 kg SWL jib crane to compliment the ABUS 800 kg underslung overhead cranes relocated from another site.
With the light crane systems ABUS have offered a solution that is both user friendly and flexible due to the light weight construction and the smooth-running characteristics of the manual trolleys with polyurethane wheels within the track profiles, these combine to make operation by the user fast, effective and effortless.
ABUS have used a combination of single girder EHB crane bridges with ABUS electric chain hoists for loads of 250 kg and 500 kg and our ZHB double girder cranes with a capacity of 630 kg fitted with bespoke tooling supplied by a specialist company.
The crane system was supported by a free-standing steel frame (also supplied by ABUS) which allowed the systems to be ideally situated within the busy facility without having to rely on or be restricted by the steel structure of the building itself and offers the potential for future extension of the crane systems if required.
The load capacity range of the ABUS HB light crane track system is up to 2000 kg is covered by six profile types (steel and aluminium). The milled steel profiles are made with the highest precision and the aluminium profiles produced in the extrusion moulding procedure ensure the highest quality of the running surfaces and smooth system operation.
An ABUS LS type jib crane was also supplied at a capacity of 800 kg to assist with the packing of the axles. Loads can be quickly and safely raised and can be transferred effortlessly and precisely thanks to the smooth-running jib arm.
The jib crane was supplied with the ABUS dowel plate which uses resin anchors for dynamic loads to fix the jib crane to the existing concrete floor without the need for a foundation.
ABUS Crane Systems Ltd would like to thank BPW for choosing to work with them on their new production line and look forward to supporting BPW on any site expansion projects in the future.
