South Africa-based equipment supplier BLTWORLD’s extensive range of materials handling equipment encompasses Meclift variable reach trucks, which are equipped with paper clamps for the efficient handling and loading of paper rolls and sawn timber in and out of trucks and railway carriages.

The Meclift ML1812R, which is a multipurpose forklift truck, moves swiftly in confined spaces, such as warehouses and cargo vessels, and can also be operated inside containers for easy loading and unloading of paper rolls, says BLTWORLD MD Ken Mouritzen.

“This cannot be achieved by conventional forklift trucks. These compact and robust reach trucks increase efficiency and safety during paper and timber handling, also reducing operating times. Safety on site is significantly improved.”

In addition to handling in the paper industry, the ML1812R machine, with a lift height of six metres and a lifting capacity range of 18 t, is “perfect” for almost any other material handling requirement in every sector, Mouritzen adds.

By extending, lifting and lowering horizontal booms, paper reels can be safely handled at a distance from the cabin. This cabin can be raised or lowered to provide the driver with improved visibility in all situations. Other safety features include service, parking and emergency brakes.

An important feature is that fork positioning can be altered from inside the cabin without the operator having to get out to manually adjust the gap between the levers. Forks are available in different lengths, widths and thicknesses according to exact requirements.

The lifting carriage of this machine has a hydraulic side-shift for accurate and effortless positioning. The cabin’s hydraulic vertical movement facility of 650 mm enables the operator to comfortably drive into a container.

Various kinds of Meclift attachments increase opportunities for using one machine for multiple purposes. For example, a Meclift fitted with a coil ram or coil clamp can efficiently and safely handle steel coils or rolls of wire. By combining the strength of these coil handling attachments and the extended reaching ability of these reach trucks, cargo handling operations are safer, faster and more cost efficient.

Another important lifting attachment is the double fork system that enhances the flexibility and performance of goods handling. This special double fork attachment offers many benefits when loading and unloading containers or trailers. For example, four pallets, or a similar load, can be easily handled at the same time and it is possible to fully load a 20 ft container with only two lifts. The weight of the load is not a problem because these double forks can handle the same maximum load of 18 t, which is the lifting capacity of the machine. Double forks use the same fixing points as normal forks, which means switching between the two is effortless.

Meclift air cargo pallet forks ensure efficient and effortless cargo handling at airports. Lifting booms are designed to handle extra-long objects in confined spaces, especially inside containers. When equipped with the loading box attachment, loading of aluminium bundles into a container is highly efficient. The dimensions of these loading boxes can be custom-made, according to specific needs. The design of this patented tool prevents scratching and bending of goods.

Meclift variable reach trucks are powered by a diesel engine and are economical to run, requiring minimal maintenance.

BLTWORLD, which supplies a range of specialist materials handling equipment to diverse industries throughout Africa, also offers a technical advisory, spare parts and support service. Operator training and condition monitoring service for equipment are also provided.