Sheffield Forgemasters signs multi-million pound crane deal

GH Cranes wins new machine shop lifting gear contract at Sheffield Forgemasters. Photo: GH Cranes

GH Cranes has been awarded a multi-million pound contract with Sheffield Forgemasters to supply brand new overhead cranes for its new world-leading machining facility. 11 overhead cranes and a 400-tonne lifting beam will be installed in Sheffield Forgemasters’ planned new 35,000m² machine shop at its Brightside Lane site, to advance its UK defence-sector output, which includes AUKUS.

GH Cranes beat four other leading crane manufacturers in the tender process to be awarded preferred bidder status for the design and supply of all overhead cranes required for the ‘state of the art’ facility, ranging from 40 tonnes to 250 tonnes individual lifting capacity.

Craig Fisher, programmes director, said: “GH Cranes has been awarded as our preferred bidder for 11 overhead cranes, with a 400-tonne lifting beam for tandem lifts, which will operate in our new machining facility, serving 17 machines, including ultra-large vertical turning lathes. The tender process was very closely run, but GH Cranes has more than 65 years of experience in the supply of industrial cranes and provided the best technical solutions and the best value for money to win a competitive tender against rival bidders. We will be installing two 150/40-tonne cranes, four service cranes with 200/40-tonne capacity and five 250/50-tonne cranes, with a tandem lifting bar for up to 400-tonnes lifting capacity, spanning up to 35m.”

Aimar Villa Iñurrita, director of the special solutions business unit at GH Cranes, said: “We are delighted to be supplying cranes for Sheffield Forgemasters’ new machining facility. This is a nationally important project, and the cranes will service an advanced facility, which is designed and built for the very best efficiency in manufacture.”

The cranes will be shipped from GH Cranes’ manufacturing facility in Northern Spain, with the first shipment due to arrive at the Sheffield Forgemasters facility in 2026. Sheffield-based Professional Lifting Services (PLS) have been contracted by GH Cranes for installation of the cranes.