Delivering safe long load handling

This was quickly followed by the launch of its 4-way counterpart, the Combi-WR4; the first purpose built 4-way pedestrian reach stacker which combines multi-directional travel with features such as a pantograph reach, side shift and tilting fork carriage for handling long loads and pallets. 

It is the only truck of its kind able to work in aisle-widths of 2.1m pallet to pallet and its excellent ergonomics, which enhance occupational health and safety for the operator, earned it an FLTA Award a few years ago. 

Replacing ride-on forklifts with pedestrian models when possible is an acknowledged way to reduce risks to other employees or the general public who may be in the vicinity, so it comes as no surprise that major DIY chains were amongst the first to welcome the Combi-WR4 to their handling fleet. 

Pedestrian trucks naturally operate at slower speeds compared to motorised ride-on forklifts, and operators have a heightened awareness of their immediate environment as well as good all-round visibility of the load and the forks. But customers also want to combine safety with a high level of performance, and this was not lost on Combilift’s R&D department. They developed and patented the unique multi-position tiller arm which enables push-button rotation of the rear wheel, allowing the operator to remain in the safest possible position when placing and picking in narrow aisles, which is at the side of the unit. And electronic power steering, fingertip controls on the tiller arm and dual side by side front wheels offer superb manouevrability and effortless operation for handling even the longest and bulkiest loads around narrow confines and corners.  

Combilift heavily participated in National Forklift Safety Day on June 9 – an initiative to promote a safer working environment for all those who work with, on or near forklift trucks.