Hangar manufacturers: ‘We think Valla cranes are great!’

One of the most expensive elements of an aviation hangar build is installing a gantry crane – so what if we could do without them?

That was the question hangar manufacturers took to MRO Middle East in Dubai in March 2023.

When they visited the Hird stand at the exhibition and were told about Valla pick and carry cranes they immediately cried: “Eureka!”

Because they had found the solution they were looking for.

It was just one of the positive responses a team of Hird lifting experts received when they attended the show on behalf of Manitex Valla.

More than 4,000 people visited the event at which Hird showcased the advantages of Valla pick and carry cranes for aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO).

Hird is the UK and Ireland authorised distributor for Valla cranes, with special responsibility for supporting the manufacturer globally in the aviation sector.

Valla – the ideal solution

Carl Cooper, Hird’s Sales and After-Sales Manager, said: “We had the opportunity to explain the benefits of using the mini cranes for a range of lifting functions in aircraft maintenance setting.

“Aviation is booming across the Middle East, with new large airports under construction in multiple locations, each of which need substantial aircraft maintenance facilities.

“Developers, airlines and MRO specialists all increasingly seeing the sense in using Valla pick and carry cranes for aviation maintenance.

“In many cases, it means large overhead cranes conventionally installed in hangars are not needed, which reduces hangar construction costs and allows more flexible and productive lifting solutions.

“We were approached by several companies who manufacturer aircraft hangers. They all agreed they are always asked for an alternative solution to overhead cranes. The consensus was that Valla battery-powered cranes were an ideal solution.”

Wireless remote control

Unlike fixed overhead gantry cranes, Valla pick and carry cranes can also be operated both inside and outside hangars, so urgent maintenance tasks can be carried out on airport aprons.

Hird has just delivered a Valla V110R pick and carry crane to Jet Aviation, a Dubai-based MRO. The electric mini crane, with a maximum safe working load of 11t, will be used to change engines on a range of commercial and private aircraft.

Using the Valla ‘V’ range of wireless remote-control cranes gives the aircraft engineer more freedom to carry out lifting tasks for maintenance work on the aircraft by being directly in control of the lift.

Wireless Remote for all Valla V Range Pick and Carry Cranes

Enhanced safety

This reduces the size of teams needed to carry out a lift and reduces the risk of error. This is a particular priority in the aviation industry due to its strong health and safety culture and the potential financial cost of mistakes.

Jet Aviation will be using the Valla V110R crane to carry out standard engine changes on Gulfstream aircraft and others, along with many other MRO tasks required.

The Valla V range is the ideal lifting solution for clean, precision engineering environments, with no fumes, no emissions in the hanger. The pick and carry cranes are also designed to be particularly compact which supports safe operation in complex environments.

A range of electric Valla cranes supplied by Hird are proving their worth at MRO facilities around the world. They include the Valla 220SE, a slewing crane with a SWL of 22t specifically designed for aviation maintenance.