Client Spotlight: Container Bulk Handling Made Easy – The SKYTIP System

Background 

Bell Industrial Design Solutions Pty Ltd (Bell Industrial) is the brainchild of industrial logistics handling expert Daniel Bell.  

In 2014, after two decades of experience in the field, including over 10 years as Rigging Manager at one of Australia’s premier providers of port logistics, Daniel turned his mind to founding his own research and development company with the aim of addressing long-standing industry challenges.  

Based out of Mount Gravatt, Queensland, Australia, Bell Industrial utilises extensive industry knowledge to develop new and innovative solutions unencumbered by the constraints of existing technologies.  

Enter the SKYTIP, a recently launched container handling system that provides a far more streamlined and robust alternative to industry incumbents, all while being much lighter and easier to use! 

The SKYTIP System 

The SKYTIP is a first of its kind lightweight suspended tipping system designed to simplify the movement of bulk materials containers.  

Lightweight, versatile and easy to deploy, the system removes the need for heavy fixed infrastructure such as large shore cranes, conveyors or specialised trucks, allowing materials to move efficiently from yard to ship using a single handling solution. Being simply suspended from its upper frame, the SKYTIP can be readily used by ship and shore-based cranes at the port (as shown below left) and by conventional reach stackers at the yard (as shown below right).  

This enables substantial costs and logistics streamlining compared to existing solutions, which involve large and bulky dedicated port-side handling systems and separate handling solutions for transport and yard operations.  

Key innovative features of SKYTIP include its compact structural frame design and optimised handling mechanics, making it exceptionally light weight and efficient. At less than three tonnes, the system maximises payload capacity while utilising a standardised ISO footprint for maximum compatibility across the entire logistics supply chain! 

As such, unlike many bulk handling systems, SKYTIP works with readily available shipping containers, including general purpose and open-top designs. Standard containers can be quickly modified and reinforced for specific applications, allowing operators to scale projects rapidly using the SKYTIP without relying on expensive custom-built containers with limited availability. 

As a result, the SKYTIP is highly adaptable. From simple container conversions to purpose-built heavy-duty bins, SKYTIP can be tailored to suit different materials, capacities and environments. By combining smart engineering with operational simplicity, SKYTIP is setting a new benchmark for lightweight and scalable bulk handling. 

IP Strategy and Protection for the SKYTIP 

Recognising the value of the system, Bell Industrial approached the MBIP team to secure protection for the SKYTIP and ensure their competitive leverage matched the product’s commercial potential.  

MBIP attorneys Andy Mukherji (Principal), Jarrod Lichtblau (Senior Associate) and Hamid Hamandi (Associate) assisted Bell Industrial in developing a robust IP position combining trade mark and patent rights to protect the branding and functional aspects of the SKYTIP.   

• In particular, MBIP employed a sequence of iterative layered patent applications in conjunction with the evolving SKYTIP design, resulting in a thicket of protection that covers the key aspects of the SKYTIP, along with various commercially attractive alternatives, modifications and future applications.  

• As a result, Bell Industrial is able to carve out, offer to sell and/or licence different embodiments of the SKYTIP to potential third parties of varying technical backgrounds and requirements, ensuring flexibility across the board.  

• This layered approach also allows for a wide range of filing strategies to be employed concurrently, combining stand-by international patent applications that preserve Bell Industrial’s broader patent coverage together with focused expedited national applications into key markets, enabling Bell Industrial to pursue targeted licensing opportunities.  

Moreover, trade mark protection was employed to prevent anyone seeking to capitalise on the reputation or success of the notable SKYTIP brand, providing Bell Industrial with a sharp branding edge early into market entry.  

By employing this strategy, Bell Industrial ensures the R&D and tested innovation that went into the SKYTIP is secure for both short-term and long-term commercialisation, allowing the team to focus on refining, marketing and promoting the product to relevant markets locally and overseas! 

If you or anyone in your network is in the industrial logistics space and wants assistance with a particular handling or rigging challenge, or are interested in licensing the SKYTIP itself, consider contacting Daniel directly.  

Equally, if you’re in the innovation space and seeking to protect your creations, contacting an IP attorney that’s well versed in early ventures is vital to ensure your investment is well protected and future proof. 

For more information on the critical role IP can play in early ventures, check out our two-part guide on the MBIP blog: ‘How to Sabotage Your IP Position’ – Part One  and Part Two. 

For further expert assistance and advice, feel free to contact our MBIP attorneys.