In today’s competitive timber sector, where every square metre counts, optimising existing storage space is crucial. Material moving specialist Combilift offer some experienced industry advice.
Expanding or relocating can be both costly and disruptive, but maximising storage in your current facility offers a more efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective solution—unlocking new potential without the need for major investment or downtime. The ‘improving, not moving’ approach is a practical strategy: it ensures that you facility is optimised, whilst also avoiding any bottlenecks in the material flow, bringing numerous advantages when it comes to costs, efficiency and sustainability.
For timber suppliers and merchants handling long, heavy, or awkward loads, such as beams or panels, the right warehouse design is not simply an operational consideration but a strategic advantage. A smart layout maximises storage, improves flow, and enables faster, safer handling that keeps loads moving, orders fulfilled, and customers satisfied. Poor layout design, however, leads to wasted space, damaged products, and higher operating costs that restrict productivity.
With nearly three decades of experience, Irish material handling specialist Combilift combines its versatile range of multidirectional forklifts with intelligent warehouse design, helping businesses do more with less space – safely, efficiently, and profitably.
Designing for space, efficiency, and growth
Every timber operation is unique, but the challenge is always the same: how to store more, move faster, and work safer within the same footprint. Handling long loads with traditional forklifts leaves vast amounts of space unused. Wide aisles and inefficient flow patterns waste valuable floor space that could otherwise be used for storage. By choosing the right material handling equipment, timber businesses can unlock up to 50% more storage capacity in their current premises, without expanding their building.
A few years after Irish manufacturer Farrell Furniture was established, Farrell’s Joint CEO, Brendan Farrell, began exploring ways to enhance storage efficiency and improve access to a wide range of products within their existing warehouse. By implementing Combilift’s In today’s competitive timber sector, where every square metre counts, optimising existing storage space is crucial. Material moving specialist Combilift offer some experienced industry advice. Smarter Warehouse Design C-Series trucks, they significantly increased storage capacity and improved stock access within their existing facility — without expansion.
“Our warehouse is the same size it was when we got our first Combilift,” says Brendan Farrell. “But over the last few years, we have quadrupled in growth. This is testimony to how Combilift’s original layouts future-proofed us. Due to the lift height of 6m of our C4000 model we have been able to go up not out. The truck’s ability to travel sideways as well as block stack, plus its inherent stability means that even our largest loads – 3.6m x 2m for example – can be moved around safely and easily accommodated in the space available.”
Manoeuvrability: the key to space optimisation
Handling long timber loads can be difficult with standard forklifts, which need wide aisles to manoeuvre safely. Combilift’s multidirectional models, such as the C-Series, overcome this challenge by travelling sideways, allowing operators to move long and bulky materials easily through narrow aisles and confined spaces. This sideways travel eliminates the need for overhead carrying and allows smooth navigation through doorways and narrow aisles, significantly reducing the risk of collisions, injuries or product damage. This, in turn, allows for much better and cost-effective use of all available space and results in an all-round safer working environment. Further safety features are exceptional operator visibility, an integrated platform that provides a stable base for resting loads during transportation, and a low centre of gravity, allowing for a low-to-the-ground movement of the loads.
Free warehouse planning
Combilift’s expertise extends beyond manufacturing forklifts and as CEO and co-founder, Martin McVicar explains: “We have always viewed Combilift as more than just a forklift manufacturer. Space is one of the most valuable assets our customers possess, and if our trucks can help them improve storage density, everyone benefits.”
By reducing aisle widths and utilising vertical space, companies can achieve up to 50% more capacity while improving workflow and safety. This consultative approach ensures every project delivers measurable gains in storage efficiency, productivity, and safety. Combilift has a team of experienced design engineers who can provide a complimentary warehouse and yard design service, creating customised layouts that maximise storage space based on the capabilities of Combilift’s equipment.
As Brendan Farrell explains: “For any company experiencing growth, I’d recommend talking to Combilift first before they even think of moving or building new facilities – they could potentially save themselves a lot of money and hassle. Getting help from the experts to improve the performance of our warehouse was an absolute eye-opener.”
