Cooper Specialised Handling Ltd have announced details of a new supply contract for two of the largest forklifts they have supplied and certainly the largest of this year so far. The supply contract for 2 x Svetruck 52120-60, 52 tonne capacity forklift trucks has been completed at British Steel’s site in Scunthorpe, N. Lincs
British Steel has long been synonymous with the nation’s steel making industry. Its history dates back over 160 years and steel making started on the Scunthorpe site in 1890. In 2020 it was acquired by Jingye Group which has since invested over £330m in the site and its facilities. The new machines are being used in British Steel’s Semi-Finished Products division at Scunthorpe and are handling bloom, billet and slabs up to 40 tonnes.
The two new forklifts are built on 6m wheelbase and hold a capacity of 52 tonnes at 1200mm load centre. The machines are supplied with Volvo TAD 1381VE 13 litre Euro V turbo-diesel engines, a ZF-WG 310 heavy duty transmission and Kessler D1022 drive axle. The machine has also been semi-prepped for future magnet handling and specified around the arduous conditions, to include extra ground clearance, that is expected in a steel manufacturing environment.
Coopers were responsible for the first arrival of the largest forklifts in the UK – 60 tonne units @ 1500mm load centre back in 2006 and whilst these new units are not as big on capacity, they make up for it in duty. As Martin Dale, Sales Manager of Cooper SH explains” SveTruck are famous for their refusal to be tempted into the charms of globalisation and the cost advantages that brings – Svetruck build as much of the machines themselves in-house. The machines are all hand-made and are manufactured the same today as when they were first built in 1977. The machines are without question the toughest and strongest on the market today.”
Dale continued “The first Svetrucks arrived at the Scunthorpe site in the 1990’s and those old machines have outlasted other younger and less-expensive machines used since. Handling long, heavy loads on undulating and in both wet and dusty ground conditions is one of the most punishing environments for any lift truck and its front-end equipment to endure and the SveTruck proves time and again, it is the toughest of them all.”
Chris Barker, British Steel Plant Manager Semi-Finished Products, said: “We are delighted with the service we have received from Coopers in what represents a significant investment in our mobile plant. The new forklifts are enhancing operational performance, reducing maintenance costs and improving our environmental performance.”
To keep up to date with Cooper Handling’s latest News please follow, tweet, link or like @CooperSHGroup
Editor’s Notes
Operating in all sectors of heavy lifting across the UK and Ireland, Cooper Specialised Handling is the exclusive UK distributor for SveTruck, RAM Spreaders, Telestack bulk material handling conveying systems and Sany mobile handling equipment, sole UK importer and exclusive distributor for Mantsinen cranes, Movella Translifters, TEC Containers and a long-term specialist in Konecranes lift trucks. The company, which celebrated 25 years in business in 2023, also has a dedicated after-sales division, Cooper Handling Solutions, which specialises in engineering support.
Independently owned, Cooper offers total solutions in both solids and bulk handling. Its customised solutions comprise high quality, high value products and reliable service for businesses operating in the most challenging heavy handling environments, including ports, freight handling, inter-modal terminals, manufacturing and other heavy lifting industries.