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Over 1000 lifts and 3 years+ on site – EDF Hinkley Point

Ainscough Crane Hire continues to deliver on long-term project Hinkley Point C, at the development site, building two new nuclear reactors in Somerset, the first in a new generation of nuclear power stations in the UK providing low-carbon electricity for around six million homes.
Over 1000 lifts and 3 years+ on site – EDF Hinkley Point

Project Overview

Marking a significant milestone in the revitalisation of our nuclear power industry, Hinkley Point C will make a major contribution to the UK’s move to reduce carbon emissions. The electricity it generates will avoid 9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year, or 600 million tonnes over its 60-year lifespan.

Hinkley Point C is on the north Somerset coast in the south west of England and will sit alongside an operating nuclear power station, and one being decommissioned.
The 3,200 MW power station has an estimated construction cost of around £20 billion and an operational lifetime of 60 years.

Exceeding 1,000-lift milestone on one single contract lift project is a tremendous feat and demonstrates once again the depth of Ainscough’s core capabilities. Ainscough Crane Hire have been involved in the major infrastructure project for the last three years. During our time we have been providing lifting support to a range of contractors on site, with tasks including: assembly of concrete batching plants, installation of mobile offices and assistance with site infrastructure such as temporary road bridges. Along with the construction and assembly work, we have worked with customers, both on and off site, to undertake safety training. We have delivered test and simulation lifts designed to improve the efficiency and safety for ‘live’ lifts on site. Ainscough are working with ten Tier 1 contractors, including Costain, Laing O’Rourke, Skanska and Kier/BAM joint venture, Bouygues, Balfour Beatty along with around 40 Tier 2 and Tier 3 contractors.

What were the benefits?

Ainscough’s national depot network and capabilities of lifting up to 1000 tonnes, has meant that a ‘one-stop-shop’ service for lifts on site has been formed.


Led by the local Bristol Depot, Ainscough’s work at Hinkley Point C has seen 22 different crane models used on site ranging from 40 to 750-tonne machines. The 750-tonne heavy crane is the largest to have been used so far on the project.

Effectively operating as a Tier 1 contractor, Ainscough has established a dedicated on site project team to manage its activity at Hinkley Point C and the site’s growing lift complexities and requirements. The team is comprised of a commercial, an operational and a dedicated lift team. There is also a dedicated specialist Lift Engineer whose role is to develop and process lift plans.

In addition, Ainscough has also inducted 35 other team members including Operators for all of the mobile cranes, tower cranes, crawler cranes and heavy cranes in the fleet, Directors, Health and Safety Specialists, Lift Engineers and other support colleagues required to manage complex projects. It also includes dedicated fitters to reduce any downtime related to potential maintenance issues.


Ainscough Crane Hire have worked onsite for over a three-year period and so far, there have been no reported accidents or incidents.

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