One of the largest tanker cleaning operators in the south of the UK has taken delivery of a unique container handling machine from Cooper SH. 

The Konecranes machine has been designed to help reduce off-road time for drivers and will help South Eastern Tanker Services (SETS) provide a faster and more efficient cleaning operation.

With tanker volumes increasing year on year, SETS needed a new frontline machine with increased visibility, truck reliability and longevity to cope with the growth in demand.

Chris Barnes, Sales Manager of Cooper SH, explained: “Reliability, longevity and low running costs were very much at the front of SETS’s decision making. After an in-depth review of the site and its existing equipment, combined with discussions with operators, we were able to build the perfect container handling machine.”

Instead of basing the truck on the previous forklift chassis and design, Cooper SH developed a unique Empty Container Mast and attached it to an SMV ECB 80 machine built on a 16 tonne chassis.

“The previous forklifts were perfectly acceptable, but when you take into consideration the amount of time the operator is straining their neck looking up at the tankers, we addressed this situation by supplying a machine with an elevated cabin for better visibility and comfort,” continued Chris.

SETS has a low height restriction in place on its overflow yard, therefore, the right mast was needed for it to work efficiently in this area. Cooper SH consulted with its design team in Sweden and developed a purpose-built Empty Container Mast dedicated for the SETS application.

Now available globally, the new machine comes with Load Sensing Technology and Cooper SH’s Eco Drive which will reduce yearly fuel consumption and extend service cycles to 4,000 hours.

Cooper SH’s technical engineers also worked with the company to offer an interface solution for the introduction of an onboard computer that will update the company’s Live database, allowing important documentation to be printed out in the machine’s cabin.

Gary Waddilove, a Director of SETS, commented: “This machine is a first of its kind in the Tanker industry. Not only will it reduce waiting times for drivers but the live feed that updates our database will allow our customers to view real time information on the position of their tanks.”

“Cooper SH has supplied us with the perfect handling machine for our operation backed up by first-class after sales support. We wanted a partner that could work with us to implement our goals and the delivery of the container handler is the first step in what we hope will be a long and successful relationship.”