A name synonymous with quality, Erikkila is a European brand that has spent more than a century supplying innovative lifting equipment to an ever-evolving world.
At Stratalign we have long been a proud supplier of Erikkila equipment, particularly the brand’s Prosystem range of modular component systems. Recently we’ve deepened our relationship with Erikkila to allow us to offer better, faster lifting solutions, by using off-the-shelf Erikkila components to create custom modular systems right here in NZ.
In this article, we’ll share how these changes came about, and what they mean for Stratalign customers.
A testing time in a longstanding relationship
Ever since Stratalign struck up a relationship with Erikkila, all the equipment and systems we sold, both stock and custom, were supplied from the company’s Finnish headquarters. Between manufacture and shipping, lead times were usually a handful of weeks.
Then the pandemic hit, causing delivery times to blow out across the globe. Supply chain issues were rife across all industries during COVID, but the fact that these delays were common didn’t make them any easier for organisations who were in urgent need of equipment.
At their peak, lead times on Erikkila equipment rose to around 16 weeks, despite the fact that manufacturing components and systems usually only took one or two weeks.
We knew we had to reassess our approach.
Changing our business model
Previously, we had never carried Erikkila stock. This was in large part due to the fact that so much of the equipment and systems we supplied were quite bespoke. It would be quite the investment in terms of both money and space to keep all the Erikkila components we would need on site.
But after our COVID experience, we recognised that this investment would be essential, so we placed a huge order for Erikkila components.
Now boasting a full range of componentry in our warehouse, we are able to build custom solutions off the shelf. The beauty of these modular component systems is that they’re a little like Meccano — we can pick and choose the components we need from our warehouse and piece together a lifting solution that perfectly matches a customer’s needs.
On the customer side, you enjoy the famous quality of Erikkila’s European engineered parts, but with none of the former delay, and with the added joy of knowing that your crane is proudly constructed in New Zealand.
When speed and quality matters
Thanks to our new off-the-shelf approach, at Stratalign we can now deliver European designed and manufactured components and quality control, coupled with instant local customisation, which provides our clients the best of both worlds. We can get your Erikkila crane up and running in a fraction of the time it previously took. Armed with all the components we need for the job, we’re able to dispatch fully customised Erikkila branded crane systems, such as those in the Prosystem range, within a week of an order being placed.
These lead times aren’t just a significant improvement on the 16-week delays experienced during COVID, nor the multi-week wait times experienced prior to COVID – they’re also shorter than the lead times offered by local manufacturers who produce similar systems. And these local manufacturers aren’t able to offer the confidence that comes with authentic Erikkila components.
If you need a high quality crane built to your precise specifications and delivered in the shortest time frame possible, at a competitive price, look no further than Stratalign. Now armed with all the components we need for the job, as well as the knowledge, experience and expertise we’ve built our reputation on, we’re now perfectly placed to meet the highest customer expectations.
Off-the-shelf Erikkila crane specifications
The crane system that we can build and customise using our off-the-shelf components is the Erikkila Prosystem range. The systems can be used for:
- Jib Cranes
- Freestanding Workstation cranes with a capacity up to 2000 kg
- Portal or Ceiling Mounted XY Cranes
- Portal or ceiling mounted Monorails
Depending on the specific Prosystem crane you choose, you may also have the choice of ceiling mounted or freestanding, and electrical or manual movement systems.
Our extensive range of stock components also means that spare and additional parts for your Erikkila crane system will always be available, including a complete range of underhook attachments, profiles, trolleys, suspensions and electrical components.
Stratalign has the capabilities to design and manufacture any crane system to your specifications.
Enabling New Zealand businesses to work smarter, quicker and safer
Modern New Zealand businesses rarely have weeks or months to spend patiently waiting for a piece of lifting equipment to arrive. Once a need has been identified, most organisations will want it met as quickly as possible.
At Stratalign we are now fully stocked with all the components we need to build you an internationally recognised and fully customised crane system in a matter of days.
We can help you to identify the specific crane that fits your needs, we can build it in a way that best suits your situation, and we can ultimately get you working smarter, quicker and safer, not to mention sooner.
If you’re looking to enhance your operations with an Erikkila lifting solution that does exactly what you need it to do, get in touch with our expert team today for a no-obligation consultation and quote.
