It is a reflection of the comparative health of the UK construction industry that this year’s Site Equipment Demonstration, better known simply as SED, will have more cranes than ever before. In fact, the organisers claim that the show’s Cranes and Access Village represents the largest gathering of cranes and access equipment ever seen in the UK.

The show runs from 6 to 8 June, later in the year than previous shows, so as not to clash with Intermat.

Kobelco is showing the biggest crawler crane ever seen in the UK – its 7200 model. Fully rigged, this 200t machine has 73m of boom and 30m of fly jib.

Other crawler crane manufacturers at the show include, for the first time, Manitowoc, plus UK manufacturers NCK and R-B International who return to the show after several years’ absence. Crawler cranes are also being shown again by Hitachi-distributor HM Plant and Sennebogen distributor EH Hassell.

With Mannesmann Dematic, Liebherr, Tadano Faun and Grove all showing, SED may offer the first opportunity to see their four rival offerings in the five-axle, 100t AT category all at the same location (although Faun’s ATF 100-5 has now been uprated to 110t capacity). Other mobile cranes will be shown by Terex distributor European Cranes and by Kato (UK).

Among truck loader cranes on show will be models from Italian manufacturers Cormach, PM and Fassi.

SED 2000 sees the introduction to the UK market of the Mantis range of self-erecting tower cranes from Masol Hydraulics Ireland.

Among the access equipment manufacturers, Liftlux from Germany makes its second trip to SED and is showing its range of scissor lifts. Also displaying access platforms is local firm Niftylift. Centre stage on the Niftylift stand will be the Nifty 140. Its new keel-shape boom allows it to achieve 14.25m in height and 6.4m outreach from a base area of only 3.2m.

The Cranes and Access Village will also host the full range of ancillary equipment such as remote control equipment, safe load indicators, wire rope, and lifting slings.

Back again at the event is the SED/Ainscough Group Crane Operator Challenge. As in past years SED and the Ainscough Group will be challenging Britain’s top crane operators to prove their operating skills. Each day the winner will take home £100 in cash and a bottle of champagne. Last year’s overall winner was Paul Clancey of Emerson Hire in Dagenham who set a record winning time of two minutes 39 seconds.

To ease queuing times to enter SED, visitors can pre-register at the SED website (www.sed.co.uk) to receive a free fast-track entry badge and pocket showguide prior to the exhibition. The website also has a full exhibitor list and site map, plus news on exhibitors and product launches.

Next month’s issue of Cranes Today will carry further details of what the exhibitors are showing.