Port side pick up
December 1st 2010

Empty container handler gets busy at Greenock Ocean Terminal

Clydeport has taken delivery of a new Hyster empty container handler from Barloworld Handling for its Greenock ocean terminal.

Clydeport's core business is the management of the River Clyde and the provision of port facilities and services. Its Greenock Ocean Terminal is a sheltered, deep water port with a purpose-built container terminal which is the main container port for Glasgow and surrounding areas. It also handles forest products and services for cruise ships.

Barloworld delivered a new Hyster empty container handler - the H18.00XM-12EC - to support its growing import and export operation, which expects an annual container throughput of 80,000TEUs.

Andrew Hemphill, general manager at the Greenock operation explains: "The empty container handler is critical to our port operation, so we researched numerous vendors to ensure we selected the best product and service combination." Engineers from Clydeport visited Hyster's factory in the Netherlands to evaluate the product and reviewed the service received by Barloworld, its current supplier, which it regards as excellent. The H18.00XM-12EC truck now operates over 70 hours a week in the intense container operation, and is expected to stack typically 5 high, with the flexibility to go higher if required. The exceptionally strong mast is fitted with a spreader featuring quick release floating twistlocks enabling the port to handle containers of all sizes.

"The stability of the mast is excellent, giving our drivers confidence to stack accurately and quickly," adds Hemphill. "It is also fast to lift and travel, so our drivers are definitely able to do more in an hour." The rear-mounted Vista cab is a comfortable environment providing excellent container visibility for the driver at all times and the clean running Cummins diesel engine has proven to deliver lower fuel consumption than previous models.

The empty container handler also features engine and transmission protection systems, a robust drive-axle, advanced auto-shift transmission and oil-immersed brakes to ensure maximum reliability and a low cost of operation.

Barloworld engineers provide local dedicated service support for the empty container handler with full parts support and training.

In addition to the feeder service (that connect with deep-sea services in Southampton, Liverpool, Belfast, Bristol, Dublin, Bilbao, Antwerp and Rotterdam) the port handles forest products. Barloworld supplies forklifts for Clydeport's forest products operation.

Paper reels arrive almost daily on ships from Scandinavia which are then stored in a warehouse next to the quayside. A fleet of H5.5FT Fortens Advance forklifts fitted with paper clamps help store, stack and transport the reels which can weigh up to 2,800kg.

The 5,500kg capacity trucks are fitted with single or double reel handlers which help to significantly improve productivity. Rotating clamps are also used for loading lorries where the reels are laid horizontally. The trucks are fitted with scanners and stock damage is minimal thanks to the return to set tilt function for the mast. The Fortens trucks also feature oil-immersed brakes and Duramatch transmission, helping to reduce tyre and brake wear.

"We already had a positive experience of smaller Hyster forklift trucks in our warehouse, which have proven to be tough and reliable," says Hemphill. "The Hyster Fortens trucks are highly reliable in this tough application with few suppliers able to match the high capacity lift on such a small chassis."

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