WESTERN EUROPE | REGIONAL REPORT


it says is a flexible solution for situations where lifting is required at several different workstations. The portal crane is not fixed to any structure, so can be moved easily from one workstation to another, and has a 500kg maximum lifting capacity for single girder and 1000kg for a double girder. The company is also launching an


articulated double suspension solution as a standard product for its cranes, allowing higher suspension forces and more flexibility when configuring a crane. In the past 18 months, Kito Erikkila


has invested in new equipment and in improving its internal processes, giving the company more control of the whole production process and therefore quality. The investments include a new powder coating line, a bagging machine, which allows Kito Erikkila to bag parts itself, and it has taken in-house part of the manufacturing of a push trolley. Stewen says the investments also support the company’s objective of making its processes and production more sustainable and environmentally friendly. It has made energy-saving production changes with the load trolley, as well as moving more production to its own facilities, which streamlines logistics and reduces lorry movements. Now it is turning its attention to a new,


energy-efficient office building at its base in Masala, in southern Finland. The old offices were demolished in January and construction of the new building, which will use geothermal heating, is due to start in the spring. “Our decision to invest in processes, production and a new office building


R Since building its new factory in 2018, Liftket has expanded its customisation


is based on our belief in the future, the good partnership we’ve built around the world and the positive feedback about our products,” says Stewen. Despite the uncertainty and volatility


that Covid has created, and which will continue to ripple around the world for a long time to come, and the problems with Europe’s vaccination programmes, hoist manufacturers are confident that better, easier times are ahead. “Business will gain confidence in the


recovery’s durability and move forward with new investments,” says SWF Krantechnik’s Körner. “The vaccination rollouts are progressing, there was a widespread easing of containment measures in the second


quarter, and subsidies from the EC that are pumped into the markets should lead to a growth spurt in mid-2021. Inflation, led by energy prices, is also picking up.” GH Cranes believes this year the


industry will get its breath back before a firmer footing in 2022, but there will be commercial casualties. “As the pandemic is brought under


control, the markets will regain their pulse, although we expect a U-shaped recovery, not a V-shaped recovery, with a longer bottom than we would like,” says Jimeno. “We see 2021 as the year of recovery that will have a greater impact in 2022 with the activation of the European recovery funds. As it is not a structural crisis, we hope to return to pre-crisis levels soon, but we feel that many of our clients will fall by the wayside. “Policy decisions by governments to


protect jobs affected by the pandemic have helped sustain industry, but we don’t know if it will be enough for all of them to survive.” Kito Europe agrees that the European


market is fundamentally stable and it does not expect any shift in trends once recovery is established. “Modern sales and communication tools


will be a key success factor. In addition, we expect the market for customised product solutions to grow strongly,” says Rothe. Kuli is also looking at the positives. “Since the beginning of February we


R Kito Erikkila will soon launch a portal crane with a 500kg lifting capacity for single girder and 1000kg for a double girder


28 | May 2021 | www.hoistmagazine.com


have seen a significant growth in markets and, as far as we can see, we expect to be back to our normal, pre-Covid levels soon,” says Riese. ●


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