As Combilift point out, when choosing material handling equipment for your loads and facilities, it’s crucial to make a well-considered decision.
A key aspect of Combilift’s design philosophy is to provide material handling solutions that not only save space and enhance productivity but also reduce risks and prevent accidents. Factors such as effective and efficient handling, financial cost, and sustainability are important, but safety should always be your top priority.
The Irish manufacturer has over 26 years of experience in the field and has a team of dedicated R&D engineers who continuously work on developing new features to promote safer operations. This commitment to safety and innovation is evident from the multiple patents they have acquired over the years.
Multidirectional forklift models, such as those in the C-Series and CB range, are designed to travel sideways while handling long and bulky loads including timber panels. The sideways function eliminates the need for overhead carrying while navigating tight spaces, significantly reducing the risk of injury. This, in turn, allows for much better and cost-effective use of all available space, which is one of a company’s most valuable assets. An additional safety feature is their low centre of gravity, which facilitates safer, low-to-the-ground movement of loads. The C-Series also includes an integrated platform, providing a stable base for resting loads during transportation.
Moreover, the driver needs to have an excellent vision of the load, the forks, and the general surroundings to ensure safety for other personnel who may be in the vicinity. The high position of the cabs on the C-Series models, together with generous glazing, ensures that even when carrying large loads, the driver’s line of sight is not impeded.
Another option to consider is pedestrian-operated stacker trucks. These operate at speeds inherently lower than those of ride-on trucks, which improves the operator’s awareness of the immediate surroundings as they are physically closer to the load, the machine, and people in the vicinity. Additionally, operators are always looking in the direction of travel.
The Combilift pedestrian stacker range is equipped with Combilift’s unique, patented tiller arm. The tiller arm can be turned left or right, allowing the rear wheel to pivot parallel to the chassis and back at the touch of a button. This enables the operator to stay in the safest position while working in narrow aisles – at the side of the truck rather than at the rear, as with other pedestrian stackers. This reduces the risk of the operator becoming trapped between the truck and the racking and ensures full visibility of both the load and the surrounding area.
