Press Release

Ref: PRCSH113
Date: 12^thJanuary 2017

World's largest hydraulic crane heads to

ABP Port of Garston 

High resolution image for download

The Port of Garston in Liverpool is set to become home to the world's largest hydraulic crane when the machine completes its journey from Finland later this month.

To improve service levels and provide substantially improved operating capability for its customers, Associated British Ports (ABP) is investing in a Mantsinen 200M - the largest machine of its type and the first to go into operation in the UK.

The crane is being supplied by Cooper Specialised Handling, the UK's largest independent provider of port equipment, which will also oversee installation on the north bank of the River Mersey.

While the Mantsinen crane's inherent versatility also allows it to handle containers with ease, its reach and capacity mean that ABP can now handle any load from any vessel that can pass through the lock at the Port of Garston.

The UK's leading port operator is also set to enhance operating efficiencies at its Liverpool facility. As well as benefiting from faster, accurate cargo handling, the Port of Garston will be able toadapt to shipments and other cargo types as its business grows.

Tony Rooney, Managing Director of Cooper Specialised Handling, said: "We're really excited that the world's largest hydraulic crane will be helping ABP to take productivity to the next level at the Port of Garston.

"Thanks to its speed and precision, the Mantsinen 200Mis set to play a major role in the port's future expansion."

Covering an area of 65 acres, the port currently handles around 500,000 tonnes of cargo a year, and with easy links to the M56, M62, and M6 motorways it is a natural gateway to the industrial heartlands of the North West of England.ABP's investment will help to secure and enhance the port's strategic importance to the city's economy and the wider North West region.

Carl Bevan,ABP's Divisional Port Manager at Garston, said: "Our decision to invest in the latest crane technology is part of our growth and sustainability strategy at Garston and will make sure the facility is fit for the future. The new crane will support our plans to grow the business by enabling us to operate more effectively and compete across all sectors."

In a series of deals with an overall value of £6million, Cooper Specialised Handling will supply five cranes to ABP ports across the UK. The new equipment is part of ABP's £1billion investment programme to support its customers with innovative logistics solutions.

Caption: The world's largest hydraulic crane, a Mantsinen 200M, will take productivity to the next level when it goes into service at ABP's Garston facility.

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Editor's Notes

Cooper Handling Group operates in all sectors of lifting and materials handling across the UK and Ireland. Cooper Specialised Handling is its heavy handling division and is the exclusive UK distributor for Meclift and Sany equipment, sole importer and distributor for Mantsinen cranes and a specialist in Konecranes lift trucks. The company has a specialist aftersales division, Cooper Handling Solutions, while Cooper Materials Handling specialises in industrial forklift trucks and is the UK distributor for the Maximal brand.  Independently owned, Cooper offers total solutions for forklifts from 6 to 60 metric tonnes and a complete range of hydraulic cranes for solid and bulk handling. It provides high quality, high value products and reliable service to customers who operate in the toughest sectors across freight, ports, inter-modal terminals and other heavy lifting industries, together with a broad range of industrial materials handling applications from manufacturing to distribution.

Media contact:

Martine Layland

CHANGEWORKS Communications Limited
t: + 44 (0) 1785 247588
e: mlayland@changeworkscom.co.uk

Company contact:

Natasha Barnes

Business Development Manager

Cooper SH Limited
Holly Farm Business Park
Honiley
Kenilworth
Warwickshire
CV8 1NP
United Kingdom

Tel: 01926 658900
email:natasha@cooperhandling.com

W:www.cooperhandling.com