The new machine will help South Eastern Tanker Services provide a faster and more efficient cleaning operation.

Cooper SH has delivered a unique container-handling machine to one of the largest tanker-cleaning operators in the south of the United Kingdom.

The Konecranes machine has been designed to help reduce off-road time for drivers and will help South Eastern Tanker Services (SETS) provide a faster, more efficient cleaning operation, and cope with increasing tanker volumes.

"Reliability, longevity and low running costs were very much at the front of SETS's decision making," says Cooper SH sales manager Chris Barnes. "After an in-depth review of the site and its existing equipment, combined with discussions with operators, we were able to build the perfect container-handling machine."

Cooper SH did not base the truck on any previous forklift chassis and design but developed a unique empty container mast, which it then attached to an SMV ECB 80 machine built on a 16 T chassis.

"The previous forklifts were perfectly acceptable but, when you take into consideration the amount of time the operator is straining their neck looking up at the tankers, we addressed this by supplying a machine with an elevated cabin for better visibility and comfort," Barnes says.

SETS has a low height restriction at its overflow yard, so the right mast was needed to work efficiently. Cooper SH consulted its design team in Sweden and developed the purpose-built empty container mast especially for the SETS application.

Gary Waddilove, a SETS director, says the machine is a "first of its kind" in the tanker industry. "Not only will it reduce waiting times for drivers but the live feed that updates our database will allow customers to view real-time information on the position of their tanks."