Multiple capability Combilifts
June 1st 2006 Specialist insulation product supplier, Sheffield Insulations, has designed its new, purpose-built Birmingham warehouse around the multiple capabilities of the Combilift 4-way forklift. As a consequence, handling procedures have been streamlined, and storage up to a height of 9.6m has been achieved, a first for a Combilift in the UK.
The flexibility of the two LPG-powered C4000 4- tonne Combilifts enables them to "handle everything" according to logistics manager Barry Leonard.
Pallets of plasterboard up to 9m in length, 6m long packs of metal and 4 x 4 pallets can all be offloaded, stored and picked for customer distribution easily and quickly thanks to the manoeuvrability and 4-way ability of the trucks. The 5.30am to 5.30 pm working day is a breeze for the Combilifts as gas power does away with any time-consuming issues of battery charging.
The storage of one product in particular needed attention, as Barry explains: "Bags of plaster were previously bulk stacked on top of each other, which resulted in damage. By transferring the storage of these to racking we can ensure better quality control, and have increased pallet density. This procedure is also safer and makes pallets easier and quicker to pick."
As operations at this relatively young site evolve and mature, the flexibility of the Combilift system will offer the company scope to adapt to future developments. More articles from Combilift Limited: | 
