Manelec kits out several buildings for a maker of farm machinery

Manelec — maker and supplier of overhead cranes and lifting equipment, a VERLINDE partner and member of the Verlinde after-sales network — has equipped its long-time customer AGCO with a full set of cranes, gantry cranes and hoists for a new extension to its factory in Beauvais.

AGCO, a US company founded in 1990, ranks among the world's leading manufacturers and distributors of agricultural equipment. It delivers farming solutions worldwide through well-known brands and its tractor, combine-harvester, haymaking, seeding and tillage, grain storage and protein production lines, along with spare parts. In France, the group operates several plants and a warehouse.

A new extension to the Beauvais tractor plant was recently built on an existing industrial site next to the factory, comprising several buildings. AGCO needed lifting and handling equipment for it. AGCO has worked with Manelec since relocating to Beauvais in the 1990s for the supply and upkeep of its lifting equipment. Familiar with the quality of Verlinde's services and equipment, delivered through this partner, AGCO once again turned to them to equip its new site.

Mr. Yousfi, Branch Manager at Manelec, says: «AGCO is a long-time customer of ours and has come to us for the design, manufacture and installation of its lifting equipment for over 25 years. We collaborate closely with their design office to deliver the technical solutions best suited to their needs. We're proud of the relationship of trust we've built with them.”

A full range of lifting equipment

In autumn 2021, Manelec fitted a 2X600 kg overhead crane with two VERLINDE EUROCHAIN VX 10 electric chain hoists and an onboard weighing system to cap the load. These hoists ship as standard with several features, including an electric safety limit switch for the upper and lower positions and an IP55 lifting and steering motor.

A monorail was also installed, fitted with a EUROCHAIN VR16 Verlinde compact two-speed electric chain hoist for loads of 1250 kg. Covering loads from 800 to 10,000 kg, these hoists feature a new toothed lifting-clamp design for flawless chain engagement.

The work was carried out above existing machinery, drawing on Manelec's experience and know-how for precise, safe handling of the structures. Manelec relied on manual hoists to lift the beams and aerial platforms.

At the same time, for another building on the expansion site, Manelec supplied a 6.3 ton overhead crane with a 28 m span and a self-supporting structure, used for special changes made to tractors. The crane runs a VERLINDE EUROBLOC VT2 electric wire rope hoist with a steering motor offering variable speed from 3 to 20 m/min. Installing this crane required the foundations to be adapted beforehand, including a 32-meter consolidation pit.

By spring 2022, Manelec had fitted a self-supporting 5-ton bi-rail crane along with a pair of autonomous, radio-controlled self-propelled gantry cranes, 3200 kg apiece.

AGCO is satisfied with the equipment now in place and keeps lining up further projects for Manelec.