Behind the scenes at the Ainscough refurbishment centre

Keeping over 400 cranes in tip-top condition requires a very skilled team, and that’s why Ainscough Crane Hire has its very own specialist refurbishment and major repairs facility, which supports its national depot network and is even used to refurbish cranes before they are sold.

Based in Stockton on Tees, the site is home to a large storage yard and workshop facilities that include three main bays and a fabrication centre, and all looked after by a team of engineers under the guidance of Head of Engineering, Graham Weights, who has been with the business for over 22 years.

Graham: “As a business, we are constantly looking after our fleet working through an ongoing process of ensuring equipment meets our defined brand standards whilst adding value when individual cranes are ready to leave our fleet and new models arrive.

“By working very closely with our key OEM suppliers like Liebherr we have developed a very defined scope of works when it comes to refurbishment work. This combines our indepth knowledge base of the crane models we run and an understanding of how to maximise uptime and reliability whilst ensuring cranes are safe and compliant with industry legislation.

“In fact, even though certain models don’t require an MOT, we always ensure we carry out work to meet MOT standards. This is done in collaboration with our depot maintenance teams, and our engineers also regularly visit depots to inspect the crane fleet.

It’s this inspection process that is so important for critical components like the crane winch and the replacement of hydraulic lines, pipework or hoses, which will naturally wear over time. 

“At Stockton on Tees, we also have all of the equipment needed to carry out major works like engine, transmission and cylinder replacements. Having a close relationship with the parts departments of our OEMs also ensures the genuine parts we need are readily available.

Of course, when you are working on older machines it helps to have a fabrication department that can make new panel sections or repair bodywork sections in-house.” 

With 32 cranes already going through the workshop from 1^st October 2022 to March 2023 compared to 56 cranes the previous year, the team of 12 technicians and engineers have been very busy. Graham: “Our fleet renewal programme has led to the refurbishment of 10 cranes already for sale this year that we are selling through Ritchie Bros. And demand is very strong for our existing fleet, so our team has been working very hard.”

One such member of the team is apprentice Charlie Kett a fourth year apprentice that will be fully qualified later this year. When I visited the refurbishment facility he was working on a Liebherr, Ltm1040-2 that would be returning to the fleet after spending six weeks with the team.

Charlie: “Since I started the apprenticeship at Ainscough, I have gone through the whole refurbishment process, learning about each model and what needs to be done to keep them in great working condition. After nearly four years, I am able to perform all the tasks required from doing an initial inspection to replacing key components and, in this case working on the refurbishment and testing of the braking system.

“And with new cranes coming into the fleet all the time, there is always something to learn from the trainers that regularly come in from the manufacturers. There is certainly never a dull moment in this role.”