Associated British Ports has invested £150,000 in two new vacuum lifting attachments at the Port of King’s Lynn, designed to improve safety and efficiency in cargo handling operations.
Supplied by B&B Attachments, the equipment is purpose-built for lifting large pipes and reduces reliance on manual handling while improving load stability during lifting operations.
The new attachments were put into operation for the first time on June 13, 2026, during the import of water pipes through King’s Lynn intended to support upgrades to national infrastructure, reinforcing the port’s role in handling critical cargo for the UK.
The technology uses advanced suction to securely grip pipe surfaces, allowing operators to lift and position loads with greater precision while reducing the need for personnel to work in close proximity to suspended cargo.
Beyond safety improvements, the equipment is expected to increase operational efficiency by enabling faster loading and unloading of pipe cargo and improving placement precision, reducing vessel turnaround times and strengthening the port’s capability to handle specialist cargo categories.
Paul Ager, Divisional Port Manager at ABP, described safety as central to how the company invests and operates across its port estate, framing the new attachments as a direct example of targeted investment that reduces risk for operational teams while increasing quayside efficiency.
Steve Egginton, Key Account Manager at B&B Attachments, highlighted the value of the equipment’s advanced suction technology in supporting safer and more controlled handling of cargo linked to essential UK infrastructure projects.
The investment forms part of ABP’s broader programme of specialist equipment investment across its port network, which includes bespoke handling solutions tailored to specific cargo types, such as magnets used for steel handling at the Port of Newport, the UK’s leading steel-handling port.
