New Penny Hinowa mini crawler crane

It is a battery powered mobile crane on rubber tracks for lifting small plant, equipment and other loads up to 630 kg. Penny said it is for "off road and rough terrain applications where safe load handling is required but where conventional vehicle mounted cranes cannot easily operate."

Target industries include utilities, construction companies, engineers, machinery installers, stonemasons and local authorities. "The cost of the machine, which we believe is the lowest in Europe, should make it viable for hire companies to add to their fleets at highly competitive rates," said Richard Hunt, Hinowa managing director.

The unit combines the Hinowa HS400 electric crawler chassis unit and the Penny Hydraulics V12 crane. As an equipment platform the HS400 is designed to be compact with a low centre of gravity and suitable to take a range of attachments. Battery power with 4.75 kW motor allows indoor use.

The V12 hydraulic crane with 2.9 m three section boom can be fitted with an electric winch, allowing loads to be handled below ground level for down-the-hole engineering applications. Capacity at full boom extension is 240 kg and slewing is through 90 degrees.

The crane folds down to the king post when not in use and the complete unit is 790 mm wide and 1,844 mm tall in the stowed position so it fits through doorways and can be transported inside a high-roof van.