The 60-tonne forklift for MultiServ.

SMV UK Ltd, an SMV Konecranes dealer, will deliver two 60-tonne forklifts with 1,200mm load centres to MultiServ's Corus Steel facility in Aldwarke, Rotherham.

The forklifts will handle steel billets up to 13 metres long in temperatures exceeding 800 degrees Celsius. Each machine is fitted with a 10-metre wide carriage with seven forks fixed at pre-set pitches.

The 60-tonne forklifts have Scania DI 54 A turbo charged diesel engines, Clark transmissions and Kessler front axles with wet disc brakes.

They are fitted with 21 x 35 tyres on the front and 18 x 35 tyres on the rear. Each fully laden machine weighs 106 tonnes, including 16.5 tonnes for the lift carriage assembly alone.

SMV Konecranes said in a statement that 52 tonnes was previously believed to be the biggest capacity for a conventional forklift in the UK.

The contract also supplied two 54-tonne forklifts, two 52-tonne forklifts, one 25-tonne forklift, one 18-tonne capacity ingot holder and a 16-tonne capacity Irion sideloader to MultiServ. The sideloader was supplied by SMV UK's sister company, Irion Sideloaders Ltd.

MultiServ, a division of Harsco Corporation, is a UK-based specialised outsourced services provider for steel producers worldwide.

When contacted by Forkliftaction.com News, SMV Konecranes would not disclose the value of the contract.