RFS add unique Fuchs handlers to their extensive fleet

Click to watch the two RHL 360Fs unloading trains for RFS

RFS is a leading UK provider of customer centric solutions for Material Handling, Rail & 3PLogistics, Equipment Solutions, Earthworks & Mining, Rock Re-Handling, and Rock ReProcessing solutions.

The company have worked on some large projects across the UK including; the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Heathrow Terminal 5, the London 2012 Olympics, Manchester Airport, Crossrail, Thames Tideway Tunnel and more recently, the business is engaged on multiple sections of the HS2 project. First established back in 1978, the company’s volumes have continually increased, and they are now handling or moving around 15 million tonnes of material per year. With the largest fleet of Fuchs material handlers in the UK, RFS recently added two unique Fuchs RHL 360F (pylon) machines to their line-up. Working closely with Blue Southern and the Fuchs application centre, the machines were custom built to the exact specifications required by RFS. This included: • A 2.5 metre pylon and extra wide undercarriage • Fitted with a Prolec PME500, which creates a virtual wall to stop the machines from reaching over live rail • Shortened stick and boom to give a 12-metre reach • Boxing ring fitted as additional safety measure when carrying out maintenance work • 360° birds eye camera system • High pressure filter system on the attachment pipework • Painted in RFS custom colours

Operator Calum Harris with one of the RHL 360Fs

The two machines are being used to unload construction materials from trains at a railhead facility located in Oxfordshire. The 2.5 metre pylons offer an eye level view of 9.2 metres which allows the operators better visibility when unloading over the top of the high material bays. We caught up with one of the operators, Calum Harris on how he thought the machine was performing “The machine features one of the best operator environments you will find on any material handler today. The cab is very comfortable to sit in, with plenty of room. The visibility from the cab is also fantastic, even with the cab raised you can still see your tracks and surroundings. The tinted glass means that the sun is never an issue and allows me to concentrate on the job. The machines are also extremely stable, even when working at full reach they don’t move.” Alongside the two RHL handlers, Blue Southern also supplied RFS with two special build Fuchs MHL 380Fs. The first was a 14-metre reach 380 which went into the midlands and is unloading trains for the HS2 project. The other is 20 metre reach 380, which is working within a port application down on the coast at Newhaven. Managing Director at RFS Works, Jim Flatman offers his thoughts on the company’s recent additions: “We have a great relationship with both Blue Southern and Fuchs, working closely with the two companies for many years to ensure that our machines are configured to meet the exact needs of our customers. These two RHL 360Fs are a great example of how the Fuchs product has progressed over the years, with one of the best operator stations on any material handler currently on the market.”