Northumberland-based William Hackett Group, a leading UK provider of chain products and lifting systems solutions, has invested in a warehouse extension and added a new forklift truck to its fleet.

The Group was established in 1892 as William Hackett Chains, supplying innovative chain products for agriculture, in particular chain harrows for the lifting, lashing, marine, mining and agricultural markets.

In 1989, William Hackett Lifting Products was established in Alnwick, which has seen the Group expand into alternative products such as ratchet lever hoists, chain blocks and lifting points.

Today, over 128 years later, the business is firmly established as a global market leader in the manufacture and supply of chain products and lifting systems for a wide range of industry sectors including oil and gas, renewables, subsea, utilities and rail.

To further support the company’s growth, ensure on-site safety and efficient end of line logistics, William Hackett recently contacted B&B Attachments, the leading specialist in material handling solutions in the UK and Ireland, to find a solution to handle its varied range of products.

Forklift truck attachment solutions
B&B Attachments designs, manufactures and supplies forklift truck attachment solutions as well as bespoke attachments for customers with specific material handling requirements.

Following an on-site survey, the materials handling specialist recommended three KAUP 2T160B fork positioners which provide increased flexibility and increase the handling capacity of every forklift truck.

They were specifically designed for the Linde reach trucks at the site, each having a 750mm frame to allow the positioner to work between the reach legs of the truck. The frame design greatly improves visibility over previous models used and allows the original truck forks to be used.

Moreover, the hydraulic function allows the forks to move closer together or further apart, without the need to manually adjust the forks; this is particularly useful when handling a variety of pallet sizes, saving time, and reducing damage to pallets and products.

Ryan Phillips, William Hackett Lifting Products works technical manager, said: “These particular attachments give us greater efficiency and flexibility as they are quickly adapted to suit our varying day-to-day needs. They are an integral part of our operation and have made a big difference to our on-site productivity.”