 4-way ability is crucial for successfully manoeuvering varying dimensions Eight more Combilifts
December 19th 2006 A second fleet of eight Combilift 4-way forklifts has recently been delivered to Stewart Milne Timber Systems’ Witney production facility to enable the company to keep pace with increased demand for its timber systems for housebuilding and the commercial sector.
When the initial consignment of eight Combilifts was ordered in 2002, the Witney operation was in its infancy, but just 4 years later turnover is booming. Throughout this expansion, the Combilifts have been an integral part of SMTS’ operations, according to materials management supervisor, Jason Guy. Two of the original Combilifts will be retained to give a fleet of 10. “I cannot see us coping with less than this," says Jason, "particularly with the quantity of material we handle – we recently turned around a record number of 72 articulated loads in one week."
All SMTS’ Combilifts are diesel powered 4.8 tonne models, and as there is no such thing as a “standard” load at Witney, their 4-way ability has been crucial for successfully manoeuvering varying dimensions of raw and finished materials around the storage areas and the production halls. The possibility of using conventional sideloaders for this type of operation is dismissed by Jason: “We could only handle packs of raw material with them, would have far less flexibility and would need a larger fleet of various types of forklifts. The 2.7m depth of some of the finished product would also be impossible to manoeuvre and load with anything other than a Combilift due to its 4-way capability.”
The Witney fleet was supplied by Locators Ltd, which also takes care of after sales service and maintenance. Seven of the trucks are assigned for supply chain operations, offloading and storing incoming deliveries of 3 tonne packs and 12m lengths of timber, and reloading finished products such as 10.5 x 5m floor cassettes, external and internal walls.
The three trucks assigned to production enable quick and easy positioning of loads for cutting and assembly. The combination of cantilever racking and the Combilift’s manoeuvrability has also enabled best use of storage space both inside and the very crowded yard.
Care has been taken with the specification of the trucks to make sure that the drivers have the best possible working environment. The hydraulic fork positioners enable easy handling of the loads, whilst radio, fans, heaters and removable windows for ventilation offer superb in-cab comfort whatever the weather. Stewart Milne also operates 12 Combilifts at its factory near Aberdeen, supplied and supported by local handling specialists Groundwater.
All Combilifts are manufactured by Combilift Ltd in Monaghan Ireland, and customisation to individual requirements is a key feature of the company’s service. The wide range of models are available with load capacities from 2.5 to 12 tonnes, with various power options and attachments. Design engineers also offer a free warehouse layout service designed to show companies how to make the best possible use of their available storage space. More articles from Combilift Limited: | 
