Press Release

Ref: PRCSH119
Date: 24th April 2017

£1.1million Port of Ipswich investment to support regional growth

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A £1.1million investment in the latest hydraulic crane technology is set to boost cargo handling capabilities at the Port of Ipswich, enhancing its strategic economic role in the region.

Sited on 275 acres at the head of the River Orwell and 12 miles from the open sea, the Port of Ipswich is operated by Associated British Ports (ABP) and handles three million tonnes of cargo per annum. It is also the UK's largest export grain port, exporting 500,000 tonnes of cereals a year.

A new Mantsinen 95R crane has been supplied by Cooper Specialised Handling, the UK's largest independent provider of port equipment solutions. Deployed predominantly to load/unload fertilisers and animal feeds, but with the capacity to handle aggregates, the crane is set to play a central role as ABP develops its bulk cargo business.

The crane represents a customised handling solution developed specifically to operate on the port's suspended quays. While the Mantsinen 95R can lift the same loads at the same operational radius as the DD2 quay crane it is replacing, ABP anticipates greater throughput due to the 95R's fast cycle speeds, which will significantly increase the discharge and loading tonnage per hour.

Andy Constable,ABP's Head of Operations at the Port of Ipswich, said: "Our investment in the Mantsinen 95R offers ABP and its customers increased options in terms of flexibility and productivity because it can operate in a number of locations on the port and is capable of being moved on and off the quay and between the berths with ease.

"Throughput will have a positive impact on productivity and we will also benefit from better berth utilisation, enabling us to service more vessels which, in turn, will enhance the service we provide to our customers."

The Mantsinen crane is a significant investment in the future of the Port of Ipswich by the UK's leading port operator. It is one of five machines to go into operation at ABP facilities around the UK - a 120M crane is already in service at the Port of King's Lynn - representing a total investment by ABP of £6million.

Caption: The Mantsinen 95R provides ABP with a customised, cost-effective cargo handling solution at the Port of Ipswich.

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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