Handling heavy awkward loads
March 1st 2010 Manufacturer Schoeller Bleckmann Darron invests in a Combilift C8000 to help
facilitate expansion in the oil and gas sector
Schoeller Bleckmann Darron (SBDL) has taken on an 8
tonne Combilift 4-way forklift to handle long loads around
its site. The Aberdeen based firm provides a manufacturing,
repair and maintenance facility for drilling products used in the oil
and gas sectors and since buying Darron Oil Tools, it has
expanded its range of services. The company has invested in a
raft of high tech machinery to meet increased demand.
Many of the products handled in the offshore sector, such as
down hole drilling tools are exceptionally long and heavy, and
therefore awkward to handle with conventional forklifts such as
counterbalance trucks or sideloaders. Combilift argues that even
when a combination of the two are used, safe operations are
compromised by having to swap loads around, and large areas of
potentially valuable space needs to be set aside for manoeuvering.
By changing from a conventional sideloader to a Combilift,
SBDL has been able to exploit the truck's manoeuvrability and 4-
way capabilities to make the most of restricted yard space while
ensuring efficient handling of its 10m long loads. Four heavy duty
forks ensure the stable handling of the longest pieces of equipment
that SBDL handles. The Combilift's design is said to be robust
enough to allow the truck to be used inside and out, in all weathers.
SBDL's production manager Sandy Stephen chose the C8000
model as the most suitable: "Although most of our loads weigh in
at around 4 tonnes, this gives us that added flexibility to handle
larger products, and it is more than powerful enough to cope very
well with the steep gradient in the yard.
"The Combilift's ability to travel sideways with the tools
resting on the platform is much safer than the hazardous
practice of having to travel
with a raised load." More articles from Combilift Limited: | 
