Lifting beams helps modular building expert  improve productivity

A leader in offsite manufacturing says it has improved efficiency and safety in its factory after investing in bespoke lifting products from Britlift.

McAvoy is a UK and Ireland market leader in the precision manufacture and delivery of temporary and permanent modular buildings. The company wanted a more effective method of lifting its floor and roof sub-assemblies, which can vary in length from 6m to 12m and weigh up to 3t.

“Previously we were using chains which was not an ideal solution,” said Mark Spruce, design manager at McAvoy. “The lifts were often awkward and time-consuming, and this method involved using a lot of factory space. Ultimately, it was not as efficient as it could be.

“We are continuously looking to improve our processes. For lifting, we wanted a method that reduced the amount of space used while further enhancing our safety practices.”

McAvoy turned to Britlift, an expert at designing and manufacturing custom lifting solutions. Britlift worked with McAvoy to create 4m lifting beams, with integrated lifting points located for lifting various sub-assemblies. Britlift also provided pre-assembled lifting chains as well as bespoke lifting plates specifically designed for the loads McAvoy is moving.

“The Britlift beams have made us much more efficient,” added Mark. “They are easy to assembly and disassemble, saving us a considerable amount of time. Lifts now take up less space as well, meaning we can make more productive use of the factory floor space.

“In fact, we have been able to introduce new processes and standard operating procedures based on the Britlift equipment. Standardisation has been good for efficiency, as well as safety.”

McAvoy has been at the forefront of the UK and Ireland’s offsite industry for more than 50 years. The company has delivered more than 10 million square feet of high-quality accommodation across a range of sectors including health, education, and commercial.

“We set high standards for ourselves and expect the same from our suppliers,” said Mark. “Britlift are very easy to work with. They listened to our requirements and worked closely with our engineering team to produce bespoke beams, chains and lifting plates specific to our needs.”

Based in Dorset, UK, Britlift works with a global client base, providing an end-to-end lifting equipment engineering design service including calculations, design, manufacture, certification, and rig design. The qualified mechanical and structural engineers at Britlift will work with the client during the design phase, ensuring the most efficient, effective, safe and suitable solution is engineered, be that a lifting beam or frame, a bespoke handling or lifting tool, complex rig design, or FEA. Its Traditional Modular spreader beam is also available in a variety of standard sizes.