Combilift launches new trucks

Combilift has launched its largest 4-way forklift, the 25 tonne capacity C25000. With dimensions of around 5 x 5m, an unladen weight of 32t and a 127kW engine, the truck has been designed in response to developments in heavy industries with companies looking for safer and more efficient methods of handling larger loads.

The C25000 resembles a standard Combilift but on a much larger scale. The manufacturer says the implications of designing and building a truck almost twice as large as any existing model called for some innovative engineering and manufacturing solutions.

The Kubota engines used as standard in the diesel powered Combilift range did not offer the required HP for a model of this size, and after a thorough analysis of the market Combilift opted for a John Deere engine. “We chose the John Deere 6068 HF not only because of its 170 HP capacity but also because we found it to be the quietest and most environmentally friendly option,” says md Martin McVicar.

A critical issue was also the platform height. The size of three single wheels required for a machine of this weight would have resulted in an unworkable platform height, but by using double wheels the platform has been kept to 1150mm. Hydraulic fork positioners have also been incorporated as a standard feature, much to the relief of drivers for whom it would be nigh on impossible to shift the extremely heavy forks manually. The shotblasting facility at the Monaghan assembly plant factory was not large enough to cope with assembled parts so steel elements were treated in sections before being assembled.

“We were definitely faced with some issues when we embarked on this project,” adds McVicar. “But our engineers once again rose to the challenge to create a Combilift which will do the job perfectly for the customer and which is remarkably manoeuvrable considering its size.”

STRADDLE CARRIER

The Straddle Carrier has been developed by Combilift in a bid to create a cost effective and flexible container handling solution for distribution, shipping and haulage companies which even have relatively low throughput levels.

The firm says it is a much more economical option than using conventional container handling forklifts, reach stackers or mobile cranes, and offers independence when moving containers and similarly oversized products around a site. If an operation handles just six containers a week the return on investment in a Straddle Carrier is quickly achieved, says the manufacturer.

The standard Combilift Straddle Carrier is a three wheel patented design model, (a four wheel option is also available). This design ensures maximum stability with all 3 wheels permanently in ground contact even on rougher surfaces without the need to add suspension, making it more economical to manufacture and enabling cost savings to be passed on to the end user.

Although the appearance of the Straddle Carrier is quite different to the Combilift standard 4-way models, many of the features - for example the hydrostatic drive and the hydraulic steering - have been designed around common components.

The firm adds: “This thought-through approach will enable the existing Combilift dealer network around the world to support the product when it comes to after sales care and maintenance. The design of the 3-wheel model enables it to be disassembled and shipped in just one 40' container, reducing freight costs.”