Cascade Corporation has joined forces with Swedish clamp manufacturer ITAB, the developer of the Smart Clamp system for paper roll handling. The value of the deal has not been released.

Cascade Europe paper industry manager Tommy Abrahamsson said merging the companies' product lines cemented Cascade's position as the premier supplier to the European paper industry.

"With this new combination, Cascade will offer paper producers and transporters the widest, most versatile range of damage reduction technology and solutions in the industry," he said.

Mr Abrahamsson, an expert in damage reduction solutions for the paper industry, was chosen by Cascade to merge the companies' attachment products and technologies.

ITAB's Smart Clamp, developed for the European paper industry, uses an on-board computer to gauge hydraulic pressure in the hoist and clamping cylinders and compute the roll weight.

The hydraulic pressure is then adjusted, and the system automatically tilts the mast to vertical when lifting or lowering to eliminate the risk of roll damage.