Cooper Specialised Handling Ltd have announced a major advancement into the rail freight sector with a contract to triple the amount of reachstackers at a major UK rail freight hub.
iPort Rail is already one of the highest specification rail freight terminals in the UK, which sits integrally within the 800-acre iPort logistics hub located off junction 3 of the M18 in South Yorkshire. The iPort Rail terminal is a 30-acre multi-modal, independently operated, high volume, secure container site, providing 24-hour access to its customers. It remains a Channel Tunnel (SACTFF) compliant terminal with 1 x 800m reception siding and two 400m handling sidings, 1500TEU storage and can handle up to eight trains per day.
The new machines will be four Sany 4540GS machines with a 7000mm wheelbase and support jacks to handle fully laden containers from the second rail line at iPort Rail. These four machines will triple iPort Rail’s Sany fleet where Cooper supplied two 4535 reachstackers when the terminal first officially opened in 2018.
The workshop was purpose-built to accommodate reachstackers, and which represent the highest property standards for this niche handling sector. Cooper will adopt this workshop and fully equip it in order to deliver a total maintenance facility. This will include a stores and stock-control system together with dedicated on-site resident staff, to enhance machinery up-time on the terminal. This same facility could additionally help iPort Rail’s customers with a trailer and container repair service.
David Cooper, Executive Director of Cooper Handling Group said: “This is a perfect win-win for both Cooper and iPort Rail. iPort Rail’s customers benefits from a growing fleet of state-of-the-art machines for second-rail handling and an on-site engineer. Cooper’s gain an operating depot in a strategically-important location from which we can distribute machines and rentals as well as undertaking machine repairs and overhauls for the wider community.”
Steve Freeman, Managing Director of iPort Rail said: “The addition of these new reachstackers will be a welcome enhancement to our fleet, boosting our overall loading and unloading capacity, minimising downtime and helping our customers to save on valuable time and costs.”
Cooper will take occupation of the workshop with immediate effect, with the four extra machines coming into operation in late spring of this year.
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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 20 years in business in 2018, 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.