£1 million deal for Cooper Handling as logistics firm boosts its steel operations

An integrated logistics company is looking to step up its support for one of the UK’s largest steel manufacturers with the help of Cooper Handling Group.

AV Dawson has taken delivery of five heavy-duty lift trucks at its 150 acre Lackenby site, near Middlesbrough as part of a £1 million pound deal with Cooper, as Dawson’s looks to increase its capacity at Lackenby – one of its two facilities that currently serve the Tata steel plant.

The new trucks supplied by Cooper Handling have all been modified to meet the demands of moving 29-30ft steel sections in a tough environment close to the massive Tata works.

They have each been upgraded to withstand the extra tension and pressure of the steel loads whilst the overall reliability offered by the Konecranes equipment proved a key factor in securing the contract. They are also equipped to sense the load and adapt the lifting power to the weight of the load. The trucks provide maximum power only when needed, so it consumes less fuel while reducing emissions and noise.

In total it is understood that AV Dawson moves around 24,000 tonnes of steel per week. The sections are loaded onto trucks before being moved to the nearby docks or onto the road network.

The site operates 24/7, six days a week and the steel needs to keep moving so reliability is a primary concern.

The SMV Konecrane trucks supplied by Cooper are constructed with a rigid box-section chassis and load sensing hydraulic system which provides a safe, study platform and additional lifting strength – making them the ideal work-horse in heavy industries.

The trucks have certified low-emission engines provide extra high torque at low revs, reduced fuel consumption and low noise levels.

Tony Rooney, Cooper Handling director said the company was delighted to be asked to provide a comprehensive solution for AV Dawson.

"This is no ordinary heavy handling application and involved meeting a range of significant challenges," he said.

"A number of factors, including terrain, weight, lifting height and constant operation combine to tests the toughest equipment to the limit.

"We worked closely with AV Dawson to assess their needs before sourcing a robust product that’s up to the task whilst meeting the customer’s commercial and economic requirements."