Containerlift awarded ISO9001

Low throughput container handling equipment is assured of a healthy, if unspectacular, future.

Despite being often touted by their backers as having “enormous potential” self-loading container road trailers (usually called “sidelifters”) have remained stubbornly outisde the mainstream of container handling and transport. Sidelifters have been around for several decades and were originally developed for specific conditions in two unconnected markets, New Zealand and Sweden.

EWS has begun a programme of works to enhance the number of services and delivery of its intermodal rail operations over Southampton through EWS Network, its newly-styled intermodal and logistics arm.

In some respects, the concept of using self-loading trailers (“sidelifters”) to handle containers is very highly developed. In New Zealand (NZ), for example, the “home” of Steelbro and other sidelifter marques such as Swing-Thru and Swinglift, about 90% of shipping containers are routinely grounded when moved inland from the port, for stuffing or stripping. Sweden, the home of Hammar Maskin, is naturally enough another big market. Malaysia and Australia are also important, as are Iceland, Isle d

UK intermodal haulier Containerlift, best known for its Steelbro self-loading trailer operations (sidelifters), has started a new rail service between Thamesport and the Willesden intermodal terminal in West London, using EWS as rail haulier.

The market for self loading trailers in Australasia is booming and manufacturers are focusing on safety as Australia considers a separate standard for SLTs.