A family-run crane manufacturer is expanding its team and investing in digital technology to support its ambition to become a leading force in the industry.
Elite Cranes, which is based in Haydock, is planning to take on five new staff in the coming months in response to increased demand, driven partly by the growth of new manufacturing and warehousing operations as companies rethink their supply chains. It is also investing in technology from Skelmersdale-based CoreRFID to enable it to move to a paperless operation and automate manual processes, helping to improve efficiency and combat inflationary pressures.
Elite Cranes was established in 2016 by Lee Roby and his father John who had both previously worked in the crane industry. The company, which also has an operation in County Durham, specialises in overhead and gantry cranes and offers a one-stop shop service. It now employs a team of seven and serves major clients including Brammer UK, Cammell Laird, St-Bogain and Hutchinson.
The CheckedOK asset management system will enable the company to manage its inspection reporting, repairs and maintenance operations. Lee says a key benefit of the move to a digital system is the ability for engineers carrying out repairs and inspections to capture data on i-Pads on site. “Using software on site will make everyone’s life easier. Filling in paperwork adds extra time on a job, as staff have to write on a notepad then take it to the office to be typed up. It also adds to the mound of paperwork we have to store. With the new system, they will do it on an i-Pad as they go along and everything is stored on the operating system. It is more customer friendly too – many of our customers are going paperless so want to receive information in digital format. CheckedOK will allow them to access reports and check the status of assets instantly online.”
The new system will also streamline admin and provide better management data to support the growth of the business, says Lee.
“We have big plans for the future,” Lee adds. “The additional staff will give us increased capacity to carry out more work on site and we are also looking to expand our operations and offer a contract manufacturing service for other crane companies.
“Ultimately we aim to be a leading force in the industry. However we want to manage growth carefully to ensure we maintain the same high standards. Investing in technology will help us achieve that, by improving efficiency – particularly in an era of rising prices – and giving us better control over the business.”
