I ntroducing more sideloaders could improve southern Africa’s logistical efficiency – especially where operations take place in a radius of less than 60km from a depot. According to Mats Blomberg, southern Africa sales director for Hammar SA, sideloaders are increasingly being used around the world. Sideloaders, also sometimes called sidelifters, enable transport companies to load and unload ISO containers, ISO tanks and flat racks carrying out-of-gauge cargo with the use of two specially mounted hydraulic-powered cranes installed on the trailer chassis. With a high lifting capacity and low tare weight for maximum payload, the hydraulic cranes also have telescopic legs to adjust to varying lifting situations. “It can adjust to the length and angles required and can easily handle weights of up to 45 tons,” says Blomberg. With a footprint in 114 countries, Hammar recently embarked on an African growth strategy which is already bearing fruit, with several machines already operational in the country. “It is far more efficient to use a sideloader than a mobile crane or a forklift in operations covering a radius of 50-60km,” says Blomberg. “It is not only safer and less time-consuming but also more cost efficient.” With sideloaders truck drivers no longer have to wait for a mobile crane or forklift truck when loading or unloading a container, but can do it within a few minutes on their own. “It allows for much faster truck turnaround times. This technique has been tried and tested around the world, increasing efficiency and rationalising the handling of containers.” Blomberg said throughout southern Africa forklifts and reach stackers had traditionally been the equipment of choice. “But they are rather limited in ground and road conditions and you have to have hardened ground areas for operation. Sideloaders can lift anywhere and do not require additional manpower. They are also far more efficient for operations over short distances rather than long haul,” said Blomberg. Introducing sideloaders, however, does require a slight mind shift from operators. In South Africa most transporters still operate traditionally, moving product with skeleton trailers. “So, he drives the truck to the warehouse with an empty container on the trailer unhooks it and leaves it there to be filled, hooks the horse to another trailer with packed container and drives that to the port where he offloads and loads an empty and goes back to the warehouse where the process starts all over again.” All of this, explains Blomberg, is done using reach stackers and forklifts. “The truck driver has to wait for someone to load and offload at every stop.” A sideloader, however, sees the same transporter taking and dropping empties at the warehouse, where he can load a full container on his own from the ground, take it to the port, pick up empties and return to the warehouse, effectively doubling the transport capacity per day.”
