11.10.2007

New cranes for Tate and Lyle

Two new "super cranes" were installed on the River Thames at Tate & Lyle's sugar refinery on the 8th and 9th October. Both cranes weigh 475 tonnes each and are 60m high, 34m long and 10m wide with a 40m maximum outreach. The cranes, which cost £3m each, were lifted into place by the floating crane "Matador 3", which is 85 metres high, 70 metres long and 32 metres wide. All three cranes were transported by sea from Rotterdam and were towed by barge up the River Thames, which meant some restrictions to major shipping during the lifting activities.

Tate & Lyle's previous unloading equipment (one of which was nick-named "Big Foot") is retiring after lifting more than 18 million tonnes of sugar from vessels from as far afield as Southern Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. Big Foot was installed in 1986; the supporting crane was installed in 1990. The new cranes will significantly increase reliability and open up future opportunities for expanding output at Tate & Lyle's Thames Refinery.

For more information contact Ferne Hudson (+44(0)20 7977 6143) or Melanie Haberstroh (+44(0)20 7977 6217) or visit the Tate & Lyle website (opens in a new window).