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SELF SERV CE 1

8th April 2004, Page 50
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

When you deliver to a site with no materials handling kit you'll appreciate carrying your own fork

lift truck. Colin Barnett reports.

perating an artic normally means being dependent on having load handling facilities available at both ends of your journey. But that's not always an option. One-off deliveries to remote locations often come with two choices: handball or make your own arrangements.

If your load consists of a 40ft container or 26 pallets the choices gets narrower still.The most widespread solution to trailer self-sufficiency is the truck mounted forklift (TMF).

Who could benefit from operating a piggyback forklift? Judging by the manufacturers' client lists the scope is wide, ranging from turf delivery specialists to the military and emergency services.

Anyone who needs to load or unload at a location without its own material handling equipment should be considering a TMF. So how much do they cost? Obviously the capital cost of a forklift will depend on its size and capacity, but you'll be looking at a figure ranging from £16,000 to £30,000. In addition there is a typical cost of

£1,100 to modify your trailer to carry a TMF.

Then there are the running costs, although the small diesel engines usually fitted to TMFs have good fuel consumption. According to Moffett-Kooi's John Bailey, a TMF should use around 12% less fuel than having a 400hp truck engine running to power a truckmounted crane.

Residual values and life expectancy of TMFs are traditionally very high, with many in service beyond 15 years. Before buying your TMF, a couple of funda

mental issues to resolve are whether you will need off-road capability, and how much you need to lift.

A TMF can be fitted to most trailers, new or used. Before doing so, however, a full survey of the trailer essential to assess the implications on stability, trailer payload and axle and kingpin loadings.

The most important restriction is the trailer's rear overhang, which needs to be a minimum of 1,600mm from the centre of the rear axle (or a bit more if it's a steering axle).

From an operational point of view,TMFs are straightforward. Considered as part of the load they are effectively excluded from the overall length of the vehicle.The only real technical requirement is for the trailer rear lights to be repeated. But if the TMF is to be used on public roads it must be separately registered and taxed at the basic car rate of f165. Training and the law The principal laws governing the use ofTNIFs are the same as for yard-based machines: • Provision and Use ofWork Equipment Regulations 1998 • Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998

• Health and Safety atWorkAct 1974. We recently reviewed the training issues involved with these laws (CM 26 February).

More specific requirements are provided by the HSE's Code of Practice for Rider Operated Lift Trucks. All manufacturers should be able to provide training, with all courses and instructors accredited under the National Plant Operator Registration Scheme.

As an example, Moffett-Kooi runs courses for operators varying from complete novices to skilled operators needing a refresher. It also provides training for in-house instructors and examiners. Case study Derek Linch Haulage, based in Romney Marsh, is typical of a general haulage operator extending its versatility with TMFs. Six of its 30-strong fleet are equipped with Moffett

Mountys, fitted to both flat and curtain-sided trailers. Most are in its own livery although two are run in the colours of Eddie Stobart and one for local firm,Tudor Roof Tiles.

We joined up with one of the fleet's TMFequipped trucks to see the concept of truck mounted forklifts in action. Driver Roy Howland has worked for Derek Linch for 10 years, but was already an experienced Moffett operator when he arrived with three years of turf delivery behind him.

We followed the Daf-powered outfit to its first drop, which gave us a chance to watch it on the road.The only slight impediment to the outfit's manoeuvrability is the extra overhang. This creates a tendency for the Moffett 2003's rear wheel to contact the ground when making uphill turns, but its sturdy construction seems to handle this in its stride. On the other side of the equation, the Moffett means the artic doesn't need to get as close to the final destination as it would otherwise. Our destination was the council-owned bowling green in a village on the outskirts of Brighton, with four pallets of top-dressing fertiliser ready to restore the turf for the new season.The rest of the load was manure, thankfully in bags, for a couple of Sussex garden centres. Arriving at the end of the cul-de-sac in a

residential area, Howland had the Moffett dismounted and carrying the first pallet well within five minutes of arrival:The threewheeled Mounty's ability to turn in its own length meant it could unload in a road space barely wide enough to get a car through.

With the first two pallets safely unloaded at the nearside of the trailer, the Mounty's only real weakness was revealed — its lack of reach to handle pallets on the opposite side meant it had to be parked up while the curtain was done up, the artic moved to the other side of the road and the other curtains opened.

Derek Lynch had tried a ManitouTMF that could reach across a trailer but its limited manoeuvrability in other situations meant the occasional inconvenience of swapping sides still left the Mounty as the better option. Despite the foul weather the pallets were safely signed for and the Moffett was ready to repack within 15 minutes.The forks were engaged with their slots, then the Moffett lifted itself off the ground and placed its wheels on their brackets. With the safety chains attached the hydraulics were released and the engine turned off.The final step was to connect the lighting suzie: the whole process takes longer to describe than to complete. •

What's available

There are a number of TMFs on the UK market, which amounts to about 620 units a year. The two previously separate arms of the Partek Cargotek group — Ireland's Moffett and Holland's Kooi — have recently merged their

European operations as Moffett-Kooi to claim two-thirds of the market.

The next largest manufacturer is the France-based Manitou, with its Manitransit range.

More recent arrivals are Terberg Matec UK and Palfinger Crayler, imported by Bill Bennett Engineering, which so far only account for a handful of machines. The choice of TMF models is almost as wide as it is for conventional forklift trucks. They range from simple pedestrianoperated machines up to 2,500kg-capacity telescopic handlers. TMF

unladen weights range from 825kg to more than 2,500kg. CONTACTS www.bill-bennett-eng.co.uk/palfinger www.manitou.com www.mebequipment.co.uk www.moffett-kooi.co.uk www.terberg.co.uk

Containers

The UK scene for independent container handling trailers is much more specialised, and tiny by comparison. Two companies have the market to themselves. The New Zealand-originated Steelbro product, imported and used by Containerlift, was the winner of the special purpose category in last year's Commercial Motor Trailer of the Year Awards; it's competitor is Hammar, sold here direct from the Swedish manufacturer.

The unit pictured is a Hammar 195 S, recently delivered to Dunbarton lorrymounted crane specialist Galt Transport. It can lift containers from 20-40ft weighing up to 33 tonnes, either to and from rail wagons or another truck, or the ground.

The whole process can be accomplished by one person in about three minutes and, with the optional radio control, from a place of safety. Other UK operators range from Han bury A AHammarlg5Sliftsupto33tonnes

Davies Containers to British Nuclear Fuels. Despite building more than 200 trailers a year, Hammar can count its UK customers on its fingers, with more units operating in Malta than here. But it is optimistic that many more UK operators will come to see the benefits over the next few years. CONTACTS www.hammarmaskin.se www.conta inerlitt. co.uk

Probably the best solution...

Sometimes the need for independent material handing calls for some unconventional thinking. This trailer, recently featured in Truck & Driver, houses a conventional yard forklift in a drive-in box at the rear. It's used to deliver Carlsberg and Tuborg bottled beer to retail outlets in Denmark,


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