Pictured above: Safety first... mounted immediately behind the cab of an 18-tonne Iveco, the 1720-K2 has been optionally specified with HMF's ground-breaking EVS (Electronic Vehicle Stability) system

Unrivalled strength and reliability, coupled with market-leading safety systems, have led Maun Motors to invest nearly £600,000 in no fewer than 24 HMF truck-mounted cranes in just six months.

The East Midlands-based self-drive hire and contract rental specialist operates a fleet of 900 vehicles, half of them trucks of which 185 are equipped with hydraulic loaders. 

Danish manufacturer HMF lays claim to the lion's share of Maun Motors' cranes because, as proprietor Derek Kennedy affirms: "In my opinion HMF's equipment is simply the best on the market.

"Its cranes are not necessarily the cheapest 'up front' but any price premium is more than recouped over a life of five, six or seven years, because they incur significantly less downtime than rival manufacturers' products, as well as commanding excellent resale values.

"And on the rare occasion that there is a problem - as you'll invariably get from time to time with even the best equipment - it's always dealt with promptly and efficiently; HMF's after sales service is first class."

All of Maun Motors' new hydraulic loaders are fully remote radio-controlled, and most are mounted on Iveco truck chassis.

Topping the bill are eight 30-tonne/metre 3000-K4 models with four extensions. The balance of the order comprises two 22-tonne/metre 2220-K2s, six 17-tonne/metre 1720-K2s, six 13-tonne/metre 1310-K2s and a pair of 5.0-tonne/metre 535-K2s, all of which have two extensions.

Maun Motors numbers major utility and power generating companies among its regular customers. For such organisations, safety is invariably at the very top of the agenda.

Maun Motors' HMF cranes are equipped with the user-friendly RCL 5300 Safety System, which prevents overloading and thus protects both the crane and operator. 

And some - including the six new 1720-K2s - have also been optionally specified with the latest dynamic version of HMF's pioneering EVS (Electronic Vehicle Stability) system. This calculates the extent to which the load on the back of a truck can also serve as a counterweight, thus allowing the operator to maximise the loader's capacity, or work in tight situations where the stabilizing legs cannot be fully extended, while eliminating any risk of the vehicle toppling.  

Mr Kennedy founded his business nearly 40 years ago - the self-drive operation is based in Blackwell, near Alfreton, Derbyshire, while the company also has a commercial vehicle sales arm at Sutton-in-Ashfield, close to Mansfield in Nottinghamshire.

Mr Kennedy adds: "I started buying HMF cranes back in the mid-1980s and have never looked back. A number of our lads have been on HMF training courses and I have also been out to the factory in Denmark several times, so our relationship with the manufacturer is very good."