Hoeflon sets out which mini crane suits which lifting job

Getting the size right the first time

Picking a compact crane is rarely just a question of capacity. Access width, the surface the machine has to stand on and the room available for outriggers all decide whether a crane can be used at all. Hoeflon’s argument is a practical one: choosing the wrong size costs time and money on site, so it has grouped its models by the kind of work each is built for.

The small end: C1e

The C1e is the smallest machine in the range, developed for work in very confined spaces. It lifts 550 kg, is 70 cm wide and weighs 1,060 kg, which means it can be moved on a trailer or in a van and, critically, fits inside a passenger lift. That makes it the model of choice for installation and assembly work on upper floors of existing buildings, in narrow passageways and on renovation jobs where access is the limiting factor rather than load.

Mid-range: C4e and C6e

The C4e lifts up to 2,350 kg at a machine width of 76 cm, and is positioned as the all-round site crane — prefabricated components, mixed renovation work and jobs that need the machine to be repositioned several times a day.

The C6e steps up to 3,000 kg and, Hoeflon notes, lifts more than its own weight. Hydraulically adjustable, extendable outriggers let it be set up on uneven or awkward ground. Typical uses given are glass and façade installation, steel erection and placing precast concrete elements where the load has to be positioned exactly.

Heavy end: C10e and C30e

The C10e lifts up to 4,000 kg and reaches a lifting height of up to 22 m, aimed at industrial installation work, heavy steel structures and factory environments where the machine runs under high load continuously. Above it sits the C30e, which Hoeflon positions for the heaviest compact lifting and transport work — large structures and heavy machine parts in complex industrial settings.

For operators who are still unsure, the manufacturer offers on-site demonstrations with one or more machines so the crane can be tried in the actual working environment.