With lifting capacities ranging from 10 to 30 tonnes, the double girder overhead travelling cranes will be used in the manufacture of wind turbines for Scotland, the UK and the Republic of Ireland, to meet the steadily growing market for wind turbines and the use of renewable energy. Two of the cranes are radio controlled and all of the crane designs incorporate zoning and anti-collision features to suit the operating parameters within the factory. All of the crane designs also include a load monitoring and reporting system to protect the cranes from overloading and are fitted with Morris’ dual speed 400 series wire rope hoist which is designed to provide safe, reliable and smooth load handling.

Following the commissioning of the cranes earlier this year Vestas awarded Morris’ Southern Scotland Material Handling Centre with a service contract for the cranes. Morris have sixteen Material Handling Centres located throughout the UK to provide their customers with 24-hour local support.

Vestas’ new manufacturing facility based at Machrihanish near Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre was provided with European funding from the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme. The investment allows Vestas to manufacture wind turbines in Scotland, which were previously built in Denmark.