 Jungheinrich has donated a refurbished forklift to move artefacts to a new museum. |
The 3,000kg electric EFG 430, like other trucks in Jungheinrich's Ready to Go range, has been completely dismantled, cleaned inside and out and had all worn or defective parts, including tyres and lift chains, replaced before being repainted, reassembled and safety tested.
The forklift is finished with the B&Q logo. Jungheinrich is the global materials handling supplier to the UK home improvement retailer B&Q, which is a strong supporter of the Mary Rose Trust.
"We are delighted that Jungheinrich has generously donated the forklift," says Dr Glenn McConnachie, Mary Rose Trust's conservation manager.
"It will be a crucial piece of kit to enable us to move these unique artefacts, many of which have never been seen by the public before," he says.
Jungheinrich UK Ltd marketing manager Craig Johnson says the new Mary Rose museum is one of the most ambitious heritage construction projects in Europe. "It is pleasing to think that Jungheinrich has played a part in helping to bring the amazing history of the Mary Rose to life for future generations to enjoy."
Slated to open in the northern autumn of 2012, the Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard will offer visitors an experience of Tudor life. The ship, which sank in 1545, was raised from the bottom of the Solent in 1982. When the museum is finished, it will house the ship and about 14,000 artefacts that were recovered from her. Since they were raised from the seabed, many of the artefacts, including crew members' personal possessions, have been kept at Portsmouth's Naval Base sites.