Steel Bros Sidelifter handles loads easily
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• A semi-trailer-mounted container-handling system, designed and built in New Zealand by Steel Bros, is being demonstrated by the company's UK marketing agent Baker Transport of Bishop's Stortford.
The Sidelifter can pick up and off load standard 6.1m (20ft) containers and double stack or simply cross load them onto, or from, another semi-trailer or rail wagon.
It is supplied as a fully builtup unit with twin lifting arms and stabilisers, integral with the chassis. Power for the tandem hydraulic pumps on the demonstrator comes from a Kubota diesel engine mounted, with the controls, at the rear of the trailer.
With York tri-axle running gear, the demonstrator tares out at 11 tonnes and can handle containers laden up to 18.5 tonnes, but because king pin and axle loadings are critical, Baker will be specifying the Sidelifter to UK customers on tandem-wded semis, for use with PTO-equipped tractive units on three axles.
This will reduce unladen weight by nearly four tonnes and raise its container handling capacity to 22.5 tonnes. With the loading arms folde down its profile is low enough to allow it to be loaded from beneath a gantry and used as conventional container trailer.
Prices will be between £35,000 and £40,000 accordin to specification, with a deliver time of 10 weeks plus a furthi 4-6 weeks for shipping.
Service support will be pro. vided separately by York and Kubota, with Colman Enginee ing looking after the hydraulic systems.
Adjustable spreader bars cz be included to allow it to hanc le smaller unit loads, and Ste( Bros can also supply extendin chassis trailers.