An attachment is working for West Coast Sea Products

Scallop processor West Coast Sea Products is benefitting from a new rotator attachment at its site near the harbour in Kirkcudbright, Scotland.

The company takes landings from all around the UK, but specialises in Irish Sea fishing, which yields the world famous Pecten Maximus scallops.

The complete processing cycle, from the catch being off-loaded from the local fishing vessels, through to it being processed to the highest of standards, all takes place on site.

To assist with the on-site processing and improve productivity at West Coast Sea Products, the company contacted materials handling experts B&B Attachments to provide a solution for handling and turning the extensive amount of fresh scallops processed every day.

Following a full site survey, B&B Attachments supplied the sea products company with a bespoke KAUP 360 degree rotator attachment which was fitted to a Linde truck. This specially manufactured rotator has a hydraulic downhold device for handling and turning boxes, allowing containers and stillages with or without fully enclosed fork pockets to be securely clamped and rotated.

This unit was further modified to West Coast Sea Products' requirements to include 'seaworthy' specifications to protect it against corrosion from the coastal environment.

To achieve these specifications, the rotator attachment has been painted with three layers of sea-worthy paint and fitted with galvanised screws and brass profiles. Its drilling holes were silicone sealed and the piston rods were prepared with quench polish quench (QPQ), a specialised type of nitro carburising case hardening that increases corrosion resistance. Drain holes were also added for the excess water in the flange.

The hydraulic clamp makes the load safer and allows for more secure handling. This attachment is used by West Coast Sea Products for turning produce boxes, especially dolavs and stillages.

Robert Scott, transport manager at West Coast Sea Products, says the modified KAUP 360 degree rotator has "greatly improved our onsite productivity".
"It has also ensured that we are handling our products in the safest possible way with reduced labour time."

B&B Attachments, established over 35 years ago, is a leading forklift attachment company which provides solutions for the most demanding materials handling tasks.