LGH to Expand Hydra-Slide Fleet to Serve U.S. Rental Market

Bridgeview, Illinois-based lifting equipment rental specialist Lifting Gear Hire (LGH) is preparing to expand its fleet of Hydra-Slide equipment after a period of sustained utilization of its three 500 ton capacity HT500

Bridgeview, Illinois-based lifting equipment rental specialist Lifting Gear Hire (LGH) is preparing to expand its fleet of Hydra-Slide equipment after a period of sustained utilization of its three 500 ton capacity HT500 heavy track skid systems and power units.

The HT500 is one of the most cost-effective and accurate methods for moving, loading or unloading all types of heavy loads, including transformers, generators, compressors, pressure vessels, and other machines where a rigid, load carrying track is required. LGH also boasts three Hydra-Pac synchronous 10,000-psi hydraulic power units that provide synchronized control of multiple hydraulic cylinders. The fleet was customized by Don Mahnke, president; and Janine Smith, vice president, at the Ontario, Canada-based manufacturer, who sought to equip LGH with a means to provide a rental solution to North America’s industries where aging infrastructure and equipment, like transformers, need to be removed and replaced with minimum disruption and maximum efficiency.

Patrick Clark, national rental support manager at LGH, attributes the subsequent success of the partnership to Hydra-Slide’s ability to tailor a solutions portfolio specifically to the needs of a target customer base. As a result, he said, LGH is now looking to expand the offering as the industry’s thought leaders and decision makers broaden their minds to alternative solutions following successful application of the HT500. Clark said: “While Don and Janine represent brilliance of engineering and a comprehensive product portfolio, which is impressive in itself, the level of trust and long-term commitment they’ve invested in us is the real cornerstone of the relationship. We receive support and world-class training from Don, Janine and Robert [Young, director of operations at Hydra-Slide] that has grown what was a reconnaissance mission into one of the most exciting facets of our company.”

Clark believes there is potential for heavy industrial and lighter commercial projects to utilize Hydra-Slide’s “Up ’N Go” jacking skid shoes and engineered turntables. The skid shoes are a complementary product to the HT500, designed to fit the same track. The 250-ton capacity jacking cylinders can be connected hydraulically with any number of other shoes, increasing the system capacity to multiples of 1,000 tons, while maintaining equal load support and weight distribution. The turntables, meanwhile, rotate any heavy or over-sized load accurately and efficiently, even in areas of restricted access or clearance.

“Exploring market potential for Hydra-Slide products is very interesting,” Clark continued. “Some clients may have an urgent need for, say, the HT500 but will never require it again. That’s where the performance of the product and LGH service must create a positive experience to grow awareness in that sector or industry. In other cases, a company may have such demand for it that they need to acquire their own unit. Then, if that system becomes tied up on a project and another one is required, we need to make sure we’re available to serve as an equipment warehouse.”