container transport
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and freight handling
by David Lowe Safety in Mechanical Handling
• The principal dangers in the mechanical transport of goods and materials in industry are dealt with in simple terms in a new booklet, "Safety in Mechanical Handling', in the Department of Employment and Productivity's Health and Safety at Work series.
The subject is treated broadly in two parts: movement of goods and materials by vehicles; and other mechanical means.
The range and complexity of handling equipment in us'e today makes it well-nigh impossible, to deal with every type of equipment. But the safeguards and procedures to eliminate risk described in the booklet will prove useful in application to appliances not specifically mentioned.
Safety precautions dealt with in detail are those relating to mechanized conveyors,. elevators of various types, fork-lift trucks and stacking equipment.
The use of road transport vehicles and their safe operation within factory areas is also discussed.
The booklet. is obtainable from HMSO, price 5s.
International Mechanical Handling Exhibition
• The International Mechanical . Handling Exhibition will be held in the Juliana, Margriet, Marijke and Irene Halls of the Royal Netherlands Industries Fair complex in Utrecht from October 7 to 15, 1970.
This international trade fair for methods and means of transport and storage is more extensive than its predecessor, the trade fair for International Transport, which was last held in 1967.
An extremely extensive exhibition programme is being drawn up, consisting of, pneumatic tube systems, containers, elevators, freight lifts, hand pallet trucks, overhead rails, industrial tractors, cranes, overhead cranes, warehouse racks, warehouse vehicles, storage facilities, pallets, roller tracks, hoists, transport equipment, conveyors and lift trucks. In addition, information will be available through advisory institutes and services in the field of transport equipment.
Simultaneously, the Mechanical Handling Exhibition will be supplemented by a programme of lectures.
Enter Israel
• A container service between Hong Kong and the USA is to be inaugurated in the near future by an Israeli company, Zim Israel Navigation Co Ltd.
The company, partly owned by the Israeli Government, recently announced that negotiations were going ahead with European shipyards for building the containerships. During the next five to seven years the company plans to spend 300m US dollars modernizing and expanding its shipping fleet.
New sideloader
• A 25-ton capacity heavy-duty sideloader is to be introduced by the Henley Forklift Co Ltd, of Pontllanfraith. Known as the Midas, this new machine lifts a 20-ft long container, weighing 20 tons at 28in. load centres, with a hydraulically operated overhead lift attachment. Quick release hydraulic couplings and locking pins enable the rapid removal of the attachment and the return of the Midas to conventional fork operation.
Although aimed specifically at the container handling industry, the Henley Midas is by no means restricted to this aspect. With the container lifting attachment removed, the sideloader is particularly suitable for carrying steel beams, steel plates and other normal sideloader jobs.
A Leyland 680 diesel, developing 200 bhp, powers the sideloader and a twin-disc, fully automatic torque converter, direct-mounted to the engine with four-speed forward and reverse powershift gearbox, provides the transmission. Electric gear selection with a safety starting device is fitted.
The drive axle is a specially designed heavy-duty symmetrical unit with spiral bevel primary reduction with four-pinion differential and planetary hub-gear reductions. Full air-powered cam brakes are fitted. The sideloader has full hydrostatic power steering by twin hydraulic cylinders acting on steer arms. Four large-area stabilizer feet are provided to minimize floor loading.
The Toplift attachment is positively locked to the container by hydraulically operated twistlocks, located in the container top corner castings, and built-in safety devices confirm to the driver that the locks are in the correct position. Unevenly loaded containers are compensated by side-shifting, making possible level lift and minimizing high stress points on the mast assembly.