Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre puts Verlinde hoists on show

Australia's recently enlarged Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) is now benefiting from VERLINDE's newest electric chain hoist technology, with 24 STAGEMAKER SR5 D8 units and 12 STAGEMAKER SR10 D8 units, plus matching STAGEMAKER Flight Cases. This purchase accompanied the venue's expansion, which also saw more than 70 STAGEMAKER electric chain hoists fitted throughout the new areas.

Through a $200 million expansion, MCEC has gained 20,000m2 of extra space, including 9,000m2 of flexible, multi-purpose event space along with new exhibition halls. This project secures MCEC's standing as Australia's largest convention and exhibition venue, with its total size now exceeding 70,000m2. As a result, the venue is set to draw even more events and thousands of additional visitors to Melbourne.

Naturally, for a venue of this scale and importance, choosing the right hoist technology matters greatly for safe, dependable and efficient operations.
"The 36 STAGEMAKER SR electric chain hoists we recently bought came on top of our existing floating stock of 24 STAGEMAKER SM2 D8, 12 STAGEMAKER SR5 D8 and four STAGEMAKER SR10 D8 hoists, taking our total floating stock of chain hoists to 76," explains MCEC Production Manager Dale Krumins. "We went with Verlinde again this time because our existing Verlinde stock was already performing really well, so it made sense to add more of the same type."

In first deciding to choose Verlinde, MCEC worked through a demanding set of selection criteria, price being one of them.
"The hoists had to be good quality, yet reasonably priced," says Mr Krumins. "We weren't after cheap, unbranded products, but rather specialist equipment suited to everyday demands."

Reputation matters, since MCEC's vision is to become the world's best events destination. So, in weighing up what the market offered, the product chosen was one that supported that vision.

"I wanted a brand recognised for innovation, matching our own company values," confirms Mr Krumins. "Verlinde has been making chain hoists for many years, as have most manufacturers, but it has kept its brand fresh through ongoing innovation. Any chain motor can lift the weight shown on the label, but nice handles, an attractive body and a black chain as standard, plus the option of an off-the-shelf case rather than having to design and build our own, gave this product an edge over its rivals."

Mr Krumins also flagged supply as a decisive factor in the purchase. After all, Australia ranks as the sixth largest country in the world by land area, which makes hiring similar equipment from other states, let alone other countries, genuinely difficult.

"Having VERLINDE hoists on hand locally is very reassuring, unlike some other brands that have barely any presence here," says Mr Krumins. "With that in mind, sourcing more similar hoists locally for a particular event is never a problem."

The recently specified VERLINDE STAGEMAKER hoists were bought, delivered and commissioned through local distributor Eurocrane Australia, which also handles inspection and maintenance for MCEC.
Eurocrane Australia has supplied MCEC for the past three years, delivering roughly 100 VERLINDE STAGEMAKER hoists to the venue in the last 12 months alone. Many of these were D8 and D8+ standard, reflecting the market's move toward more highly specified safety equipment.

"Safety sits at the core of every Australian business," states Monika Colligan, Product Technology Systems Specialist at Eurocrane Australia. "That's especially true for industries dealing directly with the public. The Australian government has long enforced the highest safety standards, and the national market has adapted accordingly to these requirements."

Local support clearly matters to MCEC, which is why value-added services from companies like Eurocrane Australia are so highly valued. "Eurocrane Australia's relationship with clients goes well beyond simply supplying a product," says Ms Colligan. "We treat our clients as partners and provide ongoing services including inspection and maintenance, as well as 24-hour breakdown support. In fact, we're so confident in the VERLINDE products that we offer a complimentary extended warranty on the STAGEMAKER range."

Mr Krumins is equally confident in the products: "All of our VERLINDE STAGEMAKER hoists, which run on Kinesys controllers, have performed brilliantly – we've had zero issues."
A closing point from Mr Krumins concerns safety requirements. Australia has no specific laws or regulations covering the use of chain hoists in the events/entertainment sector. Even so, MCEC chooses to follow best practice and, wherever possible, align with worldwide industry standards. As a result, the venue requires a minimum D8+ safety level on every installed chain hoist motor. The German BGV-D8+ specification lets a hoist suspend loads above people without needing a secondary means of suspension, which means D8+ calls for extra features such as a higher safety factor and double brakes.

STAGEMAKER SR is D8+ ready and comes standard with a double lifting brake. As a result, MCEC has 38 STAGEMAKER SR5 D8+ (500 kg capacity) and 36 STAGEMAKER SR10 D8+ (1000 kg) electric chain hoists permanently installed throughout the newly expanded venue, bringing the total number of VERLINDE hoists in service at MCEC to around 150.

"I really appreciate that Verlinde makes the effort to keep its products modern – in step with today's work, health and safety needs," concludes Mr Krumins. "As long as the company keeps innovating, we'll keep supporting them. There are a few brands in the chain hoist world that have gone stale, so I'm glad to say I back an innovative one."