Electric generator engineering specialist, Delta Design Systems, has become the first operator in the country to take delivery of Samuk Lift Truck's new RY1612 middleweight forklift truck.

The new Samuk is based at the company's headquarters near Clacton, in Essex, and will be used to unload high value diesel engines and generators from curtainside trailers, with an average load valued at over ?00,000.

It was selected for this application based on the truck's ability to handle goods of up to sixteen tonnes with a load centre of 1,200mm. This is in comparison with the majority of trucks from rival manufacturers, which are often down rated from a 600mm load centre at similar payloads. The Samuk is also equipped with large 12.00 x 24" twin drive wheels, as opposed to the traditional 12.00 x 20" preferred by other manufacturers. This offers over 50 per cent additional ground contact. The load rating of these larger tyres mean they can operate in this application at 80psi - rather than 110psi - which helps to further spread the load, reducing the wear and tear of high cost concrete surfaces as well as providing a smoother ride for the driver.

The Samuk RY1612 remains completely stable when lifting such heavy loads, giving the operator full confidence despite the change in height when the load is lifted from the air-suspended semi-trailer. Its powerful 205 hp Cummins engine enables such weights to be lifted at idling speed for an ultra-smooth lifting cycle.

Owen De'Ath, Managing Director and owner of Delta Design Systems, explains: "We looked at a number of different trucks on the market before selecting the Samuk RY1612 for its ability to not only meet all of our requirements, but exceed them. Within two hours of being delivered, the new Samuk truck had already lifted two engines worth in excess of ?00,000, proving itself as a true workhorse for our operation. Indeed, after some technical training by Samuk's demonstrator during the first lift, the second engine was unloaded unaided by my confident operator, whose previous big truck experience was only 7,000 kg at 600mm!

"Another major benefit of the Samuk is its state-of-the-art European power train, which guarantees prompt access to technical support and overnight availability of both major and minor parts, despite the specialist nature of this smaller market sector truck. This aftersales support is guaranteed throughout the vehicle's life, which is likely to be approaching 20 working years," he adds.

Delta Design Systems' Samuk RY1612 features a Cummins QSB6.7, 205 hp six cylinder diesel engine manufactured in the UK, driving the ZF171 transmission and Kessler hub reduction drive axle with disc brakes, both of which are manufactured in Germany and all of which have branches for technical support in most major European countries.

It also benefits from a 2,950mm wide drive axle, which offers excellent lateral stability, together with a mast which is 500mm wider than most trucks of this size. This ensures the driver has an improved load visibility window, helping to minimise the risk of both load damage and accidents. Equally important is that the carriage rollers are spread wider by up to 50 per cent to resist swinging long loads and containers