Aprolis Equipment Distribution, part of Aprolis UK, one of the country’s leading providers of material handling equipment, has successfully delivered and commissioned one of the UK’s largest and most specialised reach stackers for a major waste handling operation on the River Thames. Manufactured by Konecranes, the SMV 4646 TCX4 Reach Stacker is a purpose-built container handling machine designed specifically for demanding port and inland waterway applications.
The machine will handle waste containers transported by containerised barges to a recycling facility in Barking, London, where it will work alongside the site’s existing ‘ship to shore’ crane to help provide reliable, around-the-clock operational support.
Purpose-built for barge handling operations, the reach stacker combines a 10-metre outreach with a unique negative lift capability, allowing it to reach up to four metres below quay level while lifting containers weighing up to 37 tonnes.
These capabilities make it ideally suited to the River Thames, where one of the world’s highest tidal ranges sees water levels fluctuate by as much as seven metres within just six hours in some locations.
To meet the site’s exact operational requirements, Konecranes engineered the machine to maintain safe and precise handling performance across the Thames’ constantly changing water levels. Extensive design planning was also required to ensure the reach stacker could access barges from a carefully designated parking position on the wharf.
Due to the vehicle’s 113-tonne weight, engineers had to account for the concrete piling beneath the wharf, ensuring the machine could safely remain on the reinforced sections while still providing sufficient reach to access containers across the full tidal range without compromising the integrity of the quay.
The delivery itself also represented a major logistical operation. Initially assembled and tested by the customer in Markaryd, Sweden, the reach stacker was then dismantled into five separate sections before being moved to Gothenburg and shipped to Immingham.
From there, every stage of the journey to London required meticulous planning, namely by assessing every road along the route to ensure it could safely accommodate the oversized loads.
Once on site, the machine was reconstructed over two days by a team of seven specialists from multiple organisations.
The first day focused entirely on rebuilding the reach stacker, with the main chassis arriving alongside three additional transport vehicles carrying the remaining components. A 100-tonne crane, specialist lifting bars, a 16-tonne forklift, cherry picker and two Aprolis engineers were all required to complete the assembly.
The second day was dedicated to detailed inspections, commissioning, operator familiarisation, quality checks and live operational testing over the water before the machine was formally handed over to the customer.
Andy Armitage, Sales Manager – Heavy Equipment at Aprolis Equipment Distribution, said: “We’re delighted to see this reach stacker now fully operational. It’s been a long journey from the initial conversations with the customer through to specification and finally delivery, so it’s fantastic to see the project reach completion.
“The conditions during assembly certainly weren’t easy. We were working in unprecedented temperatures of around 36 degrees across both days and, because of the size of the machine, there was no way to get it or us under cover. However, despite the intense heat, the team adapted brilliantly, started work as early as possible and kept the project moving to ensure the build remained on schedule.
“The final result is a highly specialised piece of equipment that has been engineered specifically for the unique operating environment on the Thames. We’re proud to have supported the customer throughout the project and look forward to seeing the machine play a key role in helping to efficiently transfer waste containers from river barges to their recycling facility.”
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