Report visit Spierings Mobile Cranes
Note; the post below has been translated with Google Translate.
We were guests at Spierings Mobile Cranes in Oss for the company visit on 13 November and with around 30 participants it was again a well-attended company visit. We were welcomed with a cup of soup and delicious sausage rolls.
After we had provided the inner man, we attended the presentation given by our host, Bryan Huijsmans. Bryan is supervisor of the Spierings Academy, an in-house training facility for both personnel and operators. Colleagues Dennis, Roel and Jurgen also joined us for the subsequent tour.
Spierings was founded by Leo and Tiny Spierings in 1987, initially as a service and maintenance company for mobile cranes. They soon started developing their own mobile cranes and in 1989 the first own product was introduced. The starting point for the development of these cranes is that they can be operated by one person: for driving, commissioning on the construction site and operating the crane, one operator is sufficient. Within approximately 15 minutes, the crane can be fully unfolded and the job can begin. The operating time can vary from a few hours for a simple lifting job to several days for larger assignments. The Cityboy mobile crane can also be used well in inner cities with narrow streets, due to its compact construction and the option to switch between diesel, hybrid or electric drive.
Around 80 mobile cranes are built per year, which can increase to 100 units. The products are largely standardized, with customers being able to choose their own color scheme.
After the interesting introduction, it was time to enter the factory, outside working hours. We were able to view the production processes and the way in which the extensive welding and assembly work is carried out. The steel telescopic columns are assembled by welding robots, which has resulted in a significant reduction in the lead time.
In addition to the production options, we were also given an extensive explanation of the engineering choices that have been made, during which it became clear that nothing is left to chance. These are complex products but it was enjoyable to see the many smart solutions that have been applied to offer the user safety, comfort and (relatively) simple operation. The many questions that were asked were illustrative of the interest that existed among the participants and were answered with enthusiasm by the guides.
After the tour there was ample time to talk to each other while enjoying a drink. We would like to sincerely thank the Spierings company for the interesting company visit and the pleasant and transparent way in which they allowed us to take a look behind the scenes.
Below you will find (soon) a number of photos that were taken during the visit.
