Ray Smuts
CAPACITY WILL be greatly enhanced at United Container Depot's Durban premises with the imminent arrival of new container equipment from Britain.
The company has placed an order worth around R2,4 million for two Hyster 1600 XML - 12EC handlers, less than a year after a similar order was executed for Container Trust's depot in Paarden Island, Cape Town.
Steve van Doorn, a director of United and Container Trust - United's trading arm - says the new handlers will be able to almost double capacity, from 1 800 reefers and dry boxes to 3 500.
With a hoisting capability of 16 tons, they are able to lift both 20 and 40-foot containers up to seven high, using what is known as the piggy-back system.
The new handlers replace two old units and a third is to be refurbished for use in United's workshop at Bayhead.
The first of the handlers arrives in Durban by sea on April 17 and should be commissioned by May 1 while the second is due on May 1 and expected to be operational by May 15. The handlers will be assembled off-site by Barlow Handling, South African agents for Hyster.
Van Doorn says this latest order bears testimony to the cordial relationship that has existed between United and Hyster for close on 20 years.
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