Metsjö: Revolutionary hook-lift series announced

Sweden’s Ivarssons i Metsjö has released its new hook-lifters, the MetaFlex 50-60 and 60-75, with a revolutionary new shifting system and a built-in hydraulic safety bar. The new machines are a development of a concept version of the 6.0-7.5m hook-lifter shown for the first time at Agritechnica in 2010.

In the new hook-lifters, the tip cylinder is double-acting against a separate shifting cylinder when shifting the container. This means that one shifting cylinder is no longer needed and has been removed. This has reduced the deadweight of the trailer by 500kg, increasing the payload by the same amount. The tipping process is faster since the container doesn’t require hydraulic pumping during decline. The demand for oil during shifting of containers is almost non-existent due to the double-action of the cylinders.

Metsjö has fitted a hydraulic safety bar as standard on the new hook-lifters, since the increased payload might cause dangerous situations without its use. When shifting high-weight containers, the driver puts down the hydraulic safety bar on the ground. This consists of high-strength steel and the lights are soak- and chock-resistant. With the safety bar completely in the ground the brakes are locked. If the driver lifts the bar a couple of centimetres, the brakes are released and the Metsjö hook-lifter can be rolled during shifting.

“We’re very pleased with the new construction of the hook-lifters,” the company’s Anders Ivarsson said. “The new system entails increased capacity at a lower price for the costumer. The new weight limit for tipping and shifting is now at the legal load for the axles. It also feels good to standardise a safety bar and we hope that this will prevent future shifting accidents. The safety bar also improves placement of lights and works as a underrun protection.”

Metsjö builds one 50-60 version with pendulum bogie and one 50-60 and 60-75 with separate axles and communicating vessels. The separate axles with hydraulic suspension through the communicating vessels enables a height regulation of the chassis with 35cm, giving better handling and lowering fuel consumption of the equipment. A steering rear axle is standard on the new MetaFlex 50-60 and 60-75 with separate axles and hydraulic suspension.

For more information visit: www.metsjo.be.