Cooper has added hydraulic cranes to its portfolio.

Cooper Specialised Handling (Cooper SH) is now the exclusive distributor for Mantsinen Group Oy in the UK and Ireland.

The distribution partnership covers the sale of the Finnish company's complete range of hydraulic cranes and specialist log handlers. Cooper SH will also service Mantsinen equipment already in the UK and Ireland, and provide spare parts support.

Cooper SH already distributes the SMV range of forklifts, container handlers and reach stackers manufactured by Konecranes in Sweden.

David Cooper, director of Cooper SH, says the deal is a natural fit for the business on many levels. "Our existing customers have a need for this type of equipment and there's a further fit with our engineers and the technology [that] the Mantsinen equipment utilises."

Cooper explains that the concept of hydraulic cranes, also known as material handlers, is still relatively new. It offers a "viable, quick, and cost-effective" alternative to rope-based options, often the default choice in the UK.

"We therefore view this as a 'concept sell', as the possibilities and opportunities we find for this equipment become more apparent," he says.

Mantsinen sales director Harri Romppanen comments that Cooper SH's presence in the port and heavy industry sectors is impressive, "as is the control over their own service organisation which was a key element in our selection criteria".

"Mantsinen now has a significant service presence in the UK so entering into this partnership was an easy decision for us to make," he adds.

Cooper SH is the UK's sole national distributor of Konecranes Lift trucks, MAFI terminal and RoRo tractors, operating in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The directors of Cooper SH are also shareholders in a new holding company that has just purchased the Samuk forklift brand founded by industry veteran Sir Neville Bowman-Shaw (Forkliftaction.com News #590).