Briggs Equipment helps deliver UK milestone
Briggs Equipment has supported a major step forward for sustainable port logistics, helping bring the UK’s first operational hydrogen fuel cell Reach Stacker into service at the Port of Tilbury.
Developed through collaboration between Hyster, the Port of Tilbury, Briggs Equipment and green hydrogen provider GeoPura, the machine is now being used in live container handling operations. Its deployment gives the UK ports sector a practical example of how hydrogen fuel cell technology can be applied to demanding, high-intensity materials handling environments.
The Reach Stacker uses a 60kW hydrogen fuel cell engine alongside a 130kWh lithium-ion battery, delivering the strength required for container movements without tailpipe emissions. Compared with an equivalent diesel machine, the equipment is expected to cut annual CO₂ output by more than 107,000kg.
Briggs will provide service and maintenance support throughout the project, drawing on its established relationship with the Port of Tilbury and its experience supporting large materials handling fleets. Briggs will also work closely with Hyster specialists during the trial to help maintain reliability, uptime and day-to-day operational performance.
Mike Parkin, Ports and Big Truck Director at Briggs Equipment, said the project reflects the strength of Briggs’ partnership with the Port of Tilbury and its commitment to helping customers transition towards cleaner operations. He added that the introduction of hydrogen-powered heavy lifting shows how innovation can support lower-carbon logistics while setting a useful benchmark for the wider industry.
“Briggs has a strong, long-standing partnership with the Port of Tilbury, and we are proud to support their move towards a lower-carbon future. This innovative hydrogen project shows what is possible when sustainability and innovation combine, setting an industry benchmark and advancing efforts to cut CO2 emissions and transition to cleaner operations.”
Designed for full-shift performance, the machine carries 32kg of hydrogen on board and can operate for up to 12 hours before refuelling. The refuelling process takes less than 30 minutes, while the hydrogen used by the machine is produced on site by GeoPura using green energy infrastructure.
For Briggs Equipment, the project reinforces its role in supporting customers with practical routes to decarbonisation across complex operating environments. As ports and logistics operators assess alternatives to diesel-powered equipment, the Port of Tilbury deployment provides an important real-world test case for hydrogen fuel cell technology in heavy-duty container handling.
