In live broadcasting, time is of the essence. In this case study we showcase how Hydraulics Online designed a ground-breaking mobile hydraulic system that automatically keeps the camera crane level from one location to another.
The Power of Hydraulics Strikes Again
At Hydraulics Online, we love turning ambition into action – bringing our customers’ ideas to life with bespoke hydraulic solutions that push boundaries.
Meet Adrian Croome, founder of Adrian Croome Media Ltd and creator of the ‘Off Road Jib’ – a pioneering mobile camera rig built for the demands of rugged outdoor broadcasting. With 25 years of television experience, Adrian’s portfolio reads like a greatest hits of British broadcasting: BBC Springwatch, Blue Peter, Countryfile, and iconic dramas including Peaky Blinders, Sherlock, Hollyoaks, and Broadchurch, to name but a few.
Whether capturing nature in its rawest form or choreographing dramatic scenes with cinematic precision, Adrian needed a mobile hydraulic system that could keep pace with his creativity and the realities of filming in the field.
“I Have a Dream”
Outdoor filming for live TV is anything but predictable. Shows like BBC Springwatch Live operate in real-time, meaning there’s no chance for retakes – and no room for mechanical missteps. Add challenging terrain, fast-changing British weather, and remote locations like woods, farmland, and rivers, and the job becomes a high-stakes puzzle.
That’s where Adrian Croome steps in. As founder of Off Road Jib, Adrian has been ‘swinging jibs’ since 1998, specialising in large-scale wildlife and nature programming.
But What is a Jib? A jib is a long metal arm – sometimes extending up to 30 feet – with a camera mounted on one end and a counterweight and controls on the other. Functioning like an off-centre seesaw, it allows the camera to glide through sweeping arcs for smooth, cinematic motion.
Whether capturing panoramic landscapes, live crowds, or delicate animal behaviour, jibs deliver fluid vertical and horizontal movements – tilts, pans, and graceful transitions that elevate cinematography to storytelling art.
After years of lugging gear across unpredictable terrain, manually leveling the heavy jib arm, and re-adjusting camera angles with every change in location, Adrian reached a crossroads. The frustration wasn’t just physical – it was creative. The limitations of his setup were stifling the potential of the stories he wanted to capture.
But he had a dream: a camera mount that could self-level automatically, seamlessly adjusting to uneven ground without intervention. It would move with the rig, adapt to its surroundings, and stay perfectly balanced – freeing up time, energy, and creativity.
Still, the path to innovation wasn’t clear. “I didn’t know where to start,” Adrian admits. “I thought it would be too complicated and way too expensive to make it a reality.”
That’s where his story deepens – one idea, one problem, waiting for the right collaborator or breakthrough to make it possible.
A Chance Encounter in the Cotswolds
One weekend, while relaxing with family in the rolling hills of the Cotswolds, Adrian experienced an encounter that would change everything.
As the children from two holidaying families played together carefree in the sun, the grown-ups struck up conversation. Adrian casually spoke about his work in live wildlife broadcasting and the challenges he faced with manual rigging – explaining his long-standing vision for a self-leveling hydraulic camera mount.
Listening intently was Mark Tonks, Managing Director of Hydraulics Online. With a chuckle of recognition, Mark revealed that his company specialised in designing custom-made industrial and mobile hydraulic systems – and Adrian had, unknowingly, been describing a challenge they could help solve.
It was a truly serendipitous moment – what began as a casual conversation between strangers was about to evolve into a collaboration that would bring Adrian’s dream to life.
Bringing the Dream to Life
Could Hydraulics Online turn Adrian’s vision into reality? Absolutely.
With excitement in the air, technical discussions kicked off. Mark outlined specifications and gave an early estimate – well within budget. Plans were quickly made for Mark to visit a live shoot and watch the jib in action, gaining first-hand insight into the challenges Adrian faced.
Back in his workshop, Mark drew inspiration from a self-levelling hydraulic system used in the leisure industry. It became the blueprint. From there, custom design work began – engineering a solution that could self-adjust, adapt to natural terrain shifts, and integrate seamlessly with Adrian’s rig. The missing piece? A software solution that could translate movement into intelligent rebalancing in real time.
Just weeks after confirming the order, the prototype was complete. Rugged, smart, and fit for purpose – it was ready for its first test: BBC Springwatch.
Springwatch is coming to an end tonight. It’s been another excellent series and as usual so much fun to work on. The prototype gator hydraulic mount has worked a treat – keeping the jib level as we repositioned across some pretty uneven ground, then allowing us to raise and lower the jib depending on the shot. It’s back to the engineers for some minor tweaks then back in action in a few weeks.
Solving problems and bringing ideas to life is what we do best here at Hydraulics Online. Only a few minor adjustments were needed to the mercury switches to stop a minor tremble and then the new ground-breaking, self-levelling hydraulic mount system was signed off, sealed and delivered!
Taking a Closer Look: A Unique Hydraulic System
The newly developed mobile hydraulic system powering Adrian’s Off Road Jib is a truly unique design – engineered specifically for the challenges of live outdoor filming. Featuring auto in-motion self-leveling and height adjustment, this mount dynamically adapts to terrain while being fully controlled via a remote panel.
Safety is built into its core. Weight is distributed across five hydraulic cylinders, delivering unmatched balance and stability even in high-angle or off-camber environments.
The following year, BBC Springwatch took the rig into the wild once again – but with a powerful upgrade. The new mobile hydraulic system and self-leveling mount allowing Adrian and the crew to reposition across uneven terrain with speed and precision.
“Pretty extreme angles,” Adrian notes, “but no problem. It’s constantly adjusting as we move into position – making repos faster, safer, and more reliable.”
Off-Road Jib in Full Swing: Seamless Shots Across the Isles
The Off Road Jib team are well equipped to capture even more breathtaking moments across the British Isles with their tailor-made mount. From BBC Countryfile Live filming beside the dramatic ruins of Llansteffan Castle on Wales’ southern coast, to Springwatch birdwatching near Sherborne Park Estate in Gloucestershire, this hydraulic marvel keeps both jib and camera perfectly level at the touch of a button.
Adrian’s Verdict:
“We’re absolutely thrilled with our new camera mount from Hydraulics Online. The auto self-leveling and height-adjusting features are saving us serious time on every shoot – and reducing stress while we’re at it.”“Hydraulics Online nailed the design and exceeded our expectations – functionality, cost, everything. If you’re wrestling with a design challenge, I wholeheartedly recommend reaching out to them for a hydraulic make-over.”
Mark says:
It’s great to have found a completely unique design solution for this type of application. It ticks all the boxes with regards to functionality and we’ve applied the highest of safety measures too. When you put a camera weighting approximately 15 kg at the end of a 30-metre rig, the counterbalance weight-pressure at the mount and balancing point is more like 150kg, so it needs to be robust! As such, we designed a solution where the weight could be evenly distributed across five symmetrically positioned hydraulic cylinders rather than just one. This provides optimal safety for the staff operating the jib and longevity of the kit.
We are the first choice for customers in over 130 countries worldwide, supplying a vast selection of hydraulic brands and components. You are guaranteed impartial, technical advice and optimal solutions. Every time.
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