HMF invests to boost production capacity

11 December 2017 by Sotiris Kanaris

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Danish family-owned crane manufacturer HMF has invested heavily in automated production processes to meet increasing international demand.

The company has invested in a brand-new production line for knucklebooms, where the optimized flow ensures that knucklebooms are ready-manufactured in one single workflow, before sending them directly into the fully automatic paint facility.

In connection with the new production line, HMF is also implementing a brand-new welding robot that uses leading technology with adaptive welding and a fully automatic conveyor system. A new drilling centre capable of handling very big items has also been added to the new production line for knuckle booms.

“In general, HMF experiences an increasing demand especially for larger cranes. Thereby the need for more jib extensions increases correspondingly as does the need for hydraulic pipes,” said HMF.

In response to this demand, the company has ordered a new fully automatic pipe bending machine for hydraulic pipes, which is to ensure the necessary capacity and delivery time. At the same time, the test capacity for large range cranes has been increased by 50%.

Concurrently with the increasing order intake, the number of employees has now exceeded 550 and in March HMF started using two newly refurbished office buildings. This made room among others for an extension of the R&D capacity with more than 25%.

The manufacturer is introducing a welding robot at the HMF Welding Academy as well, where the purpose is to train young metalworkers as well as upskilling their existing employees. Here HMF has also invested in analysis equipment for securing the quality of the weld seams.

 “At the same time as we are investing heavily in new processes, facilities and staff, it goes without saying that we also optimize where we can. For example, we have gone through our entire range of sub-suppliers, and among others we have changed from yellow chromate to zinc-nickel treatment on sub-components to further enhance quality, just as we ensure capacity with our sub-suppliers - among others by Northern Europe's most modern laser cutter,” said CEO Brian Stage.