News for Tool Hire, Equipment Hire & Plant Hire and Rental Professionals

Grab a pizza

11 August 2021

Grab a pizza

Here’s more evidence to suggest that hirers can expect increased business from home owners improving their houses and gardens throughout the summer and beyond. 

Earlier on the blog, I reported on how busy Hook-up Solutions were in supplying their Hooka tracked mini crane for moving heavy pizza kilns into gardens. Julie Armond, the company’s project manager, tells me that’s still very much the case. 

“People are again postponing their summer holidays and spending money on their homes instead. We are recommended installers for several manufacturers for moving their kilns into position. We’ve already had four enquiries this morning.” 

Indeed, Hook-up Solutions was originally formed principally to manufacture and sell the Hooka, but the level of interest in the machine for moving ovens and for other applications means it is acting as a specialist hirer to meet demand. 

It now has a fleet of 22 Hookas for moving and lifting tasks as far afield as the south west of England, Norfolk and well into the Midlands from its HQ in Baldock. 

“Pizza kilns typically weigh 1 tonne and measure up to 1200mm wide,” says Julie. “Delivery companies will drop them off at the kerbside but then they have to be moved into place. 

“We can take them through the back of the property and place them on to the necessary concrete base. Some sites can be obstacle courses and we have to lift over fences or gain access via the rear.” 

The Hooka is 900mm wide and can lift 1500kg. It’s also popular for installing steel beams in house extensions and sometimes two machines can be used together for heavier loads. Other applications include lifting trees and moving statues. 

“Demand hasn’t stopped,” adds Julie. “We even did a job on Christmas Eve for someone who wanted to use their new kiln over the festive period.” 

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