When SUEZ Recycling & Recovery required dedicated 33 tonne capacity forklifts supplied with inverted forks to handle 20’ fixed toplift frames to 3-high, Cooper SH responded with an innovative solution.
Heavy equipment lifting specialist Cooper Specialised Handling Ltd has announced details of a supply contract for three 33 tonne SveTruck forklifts for dedicated 20’ container handling at SUEZ recycling and recovery UK at their Merseyside facility.
SUEZ manages Merseyside and Halton’s residual waste on behalf of Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority. Residual waste from across the region arrives at the rail transfer loading station in Kirkby, Knowsley, where it is compacted into rail containers and sent by rail to the Wilton energy-from-waste facility in Teesside to generate electricity – enough electricity to power over 63,000 homes.
The new 33 tonne capacity forklifts are supplied with inverted forks to handle dedicated 20’ fixed toplift frames to 3-high given the containers are exclusively 20’ long. The machines will be used for loading to and from the compactors and the trains.
As David Cooper, Executive Director of Coopers commented “The application at Knowsley is highly unusual in that large container handlers are used exclusively inside the transfer station. Large machines are predominantly equipment used outside so to have machines used 100% inside is the only one I have come across to date”
Cooper himself was involved in the implementation of the CHUs (Container Handling Unit) at Knowsley going back to its inception in 2011 when Coopers were a Konecranes representative. Despite putting 3 years into the project, Cooper lost out when Konecranes appointed an alternative distributor who, not long after, were awarded the supply contract for 3 new machines. 10 years on, Cooper Handling are now maintaining these same 3 units and arranging their removal from site to facilitate the arrival of the new equipment.
The new Svetrucks were awarded following an extensive tender and technical evaluation which included visiting existing users to gain an appreciation of the quality and longevity of the equipment. As David Cooper pointed out “We live in a world of globalisation where low-cost component supply appears more paramount than ever to boost profitability. Sve refused to be drawn down that path and whilst more expensive to buy, customers have the absolute highest quality, highest specification machine on the market – Swedish designed, Swedish manufactured and assembled in Sweden”.
Stephen Sharkey, SUEZ production operations manager said, “Sustainable procurement underpins the SUEZ supply chain and so we look to work with suppliers offering both quality, innovative products as well as value for money. We look forward to utilising the Svetrucks within our operation and continuing to work with Cooper Specialised Handling Ltd.”
The new machines entered service in August 2024.
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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.