Outdoor operations at SCA's waste-paper storage site.

The Witzenhausen Paper Factory, in central Germany, has bought 21 Kalmar DCE 80-6 forklifts to handle paper reels and waste materials.

The forklifts, which have a lift height of 6.25 metres, are equipped with inclined cylinders above the driver's cabin because of the strong torsion forces that arise when picking up paper reels. Kalmar did not disclose the value of the order.

The factory, founded in 1975, is part of the Swedish group, Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA). In 2004, it processed 318,000 tonnes of waste paper into 300,000 tonnes of cardboard packaging.

Peter Booß, the factory's workshop manager, said SCA's priority was workplace safety.

"Running an operation of this size is tough, especially on the machines, so it is essential the equipment we employ is able to stand up to the tasks at hand," he said.

Each forklift, shared by two drivers, works 24 hours a day. From 6am to 10pm, the forklifts unload around 120 truck-and-trailer units and stack waste paper outdoors.

Bolzoni-Auramo paper-reel clamps have been incorporated into the design of the forklifts.