JC Plant Ltd has developed the Skyhook 3.3 using Cat forklifts supplied by Briggs Equipment.

A new materials handling machine made from a Cat diesel forklift is expected to boost safety for handling applications in power stations and refineries.

Lincolnshire-based JC Plant Ltd has developed the Skyhook 3.3 using Cat forklifts supplied by UK's national Cat Lift Truck distributor, Briggs Equipment.

JC Plant, which specialises in bespoke materials handling solutions, designed the Cat-JC hybrid machine to work in hazardous environments and confined spaces while providing optimum safety for the operators and bystanders.

"We identified that some of our customers were having difficulty handling smaller loads in restricted spaces and in some cases were manually handling items when machinery should have been used," says Jamie Cooper, JC Plant's managing director.

Cooper explains that when maintenance is carried out in confined spaces, the Skyhook can quickly perform tasks which would take a team several hours to complete using scaffolding and lifting tackle.

"Also, it reduces the amount of times an item needs to be handled; not to mention all the finger, toe and back problems associated with poor manual handling practices," he says.

By its very nature, Skyhook is not a "forklift" as it has no forks.

JC Plant approached various equipment manufacturers with the specifications it needed to create its bespoke machine. Cat Lift Trucks were the only trucks able to meet their requirements

Each of the DP25 diesel Cat forklifts supplied by Briggs had its chassis and hydraulic systems re-engineered to accept a specially-designed sub-frame and stabiliser structure, onto which JC Plant mounted a compact lifting arm.

The Skyhook 3.3 is able to pick and carry over 1,000kg (2,205lbs) at 1.5 metres (4.9 feet) within a 90° restricted slewing arc over the front of the machine, and with the stabilisers in place, this can be increased to 520kgs (1,146lbs) at 6 metres (19.7 feet), all while keeping the working head room down to 2.5 metres (8.2 feet).

"What it shows is the very best of British ingenuity combining two different [and] extremely high-quality components to create a truly unique solution to a niche mechanical handling problem," Cooper says.

JC Plant worked with national training institute ITSSAR and local training centre WR Training Services to design a training course to suit both the machine and the user.

Cooper says forklift drivers only need a one-day conversion course to use the Skyhook 3.3 but various training courses can be provided to suit the operator's experience.

JC Plant produces three Skyhook models (3.3, 12, 16.6), with the 3.3 being the newest and smallest. There are now seven Skyhook 3.3 evaluation machines in the field, gathering information for future development. JC Plant is hiring the Skyhooks out on contracts in the UK and has plans to expand its business in Europe.

Separately, Briggs Equipment has appointed Chris Meinecke as CEO. Meinecke joins the UK team from the US where he has worked with Briggs for over 18 years.