27.04.2004

£2.3 million crane investment for ABP

Associated British Ports (ABP) South Wales has invested £2.3 million in a new fleet of cranes and material handling equipment to meet the demands of growing cargo trade at its Newport, Cardiff, Barry, Port Talbot and Swansea ports expected this year.

Following a year of major new business wins in 2003, ABP has embarked upon an ‘expansion and replacement’ programme to strengthen and improve the five ports’ quayside handling equipment.

The order includes two 160 t capacity Liebherr LTM 1160/2 all-terrain mobile cranes, a 36 t capacity Liebherr LHM 150, a 36 t capacity Liebherr 1120 VG mobile harbour crane and a 20 t capacity Fuchs MHL 360 materials handler. In addition ,12 Toyota forklift trucks were also delivered to ABP South Wales.

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Following a year of major new contract wins in 2003, ABP has embarked upon an ‘expansion and replacement’ programme to strengthen and improve the ports’ quayside handling equipment.

Commenting on the purchase, Budha Majumdar, ABP Port Director, South Wales Ports, said: “This investment in cranes and handling equipment reflects the success of our South Wales Ports."

New business secured by ABP South Wales in 2003 includes a new three-year contract with Corus to handle more steel-coil export shipments at Swansea and Newport, agreements with two new steel-handling customers at Cardiff, a new contract with Sims Group to create the biggest and most effective fridge-recycling centre in the world at Newport, and an agreement with Scott Timber Group – the UK’s leading pallet manufacturer – to further grow its business at Barry.

Additional steel growth is also expected through Cardiff as the port’s newest steel customer, the Spanish steel giant Grupo Celsa – the new owners of the former Allied Steel & Wire (ASW) Castle & Tremorfa steelworks – re-establishes export-steel shipments through the port. At Newport, new customer WestBank Timber has opened an import facility, which will boost the port’s timber volumes.