alsford.jpgAlsford Timber, the largest independent timber merchant in the South East, has experienced dramatic year on year growth in recent years. To keep pace with the resulting increase in the volume of materials handled, the company is using a fleet of Combilift 4-way forklifts at a number of its branches. Founded in 1882, Alsford Timber now has over 20 depots serving both small and medium builders as well as national housebuilders. Branches stock a comprehensive range of timber, sheet material and joinery products, doors, staircases, fencing and flooring, and also specialise in the supply of I-joists for the timber frame sector.

The original decision to look for a more efficient handling and storage system was made when management identified a need for improved manoeuvrability of long loads within modern business units on trading estates. These premises are characteristically not overly roomy, with only narrow access into storage areas.

In the past, a combination of a counterbalance forklift and standard sideloader was the only answer, but this was still a compromise as a standard sideloader needs a large area in which to operate, and getting 6 metre long loads into the building with the counterbalance truck entails tricky and potentially hazardous manoeuvres. The versatility of the Combilift, introduced onto the market 10 years ago, is the ideal solution for long loads, and Alsford’s Transport Manager Dave Walton recognised its suitability. The first truck was acquired for the Uckfield depot, and this proved to be so successful that 2 further C4000 4-tonne capacity LPG Combilifts were ordered for the Mortlake and Tonbridge branches. MD Neil Fuller comments: “We pride ourselves on excellent customer service, and the versatile qualities of the Combilifts have enabled us to keep up with customer demand at these branches.”

Alsford’s Ness Road site in Dartford has a large stock of I-joists, stored in racking, which had been installed in pre-Combilift times. A Combilift C5000SL, a 4-way sideloader, was chosen for this location as the most suitable model to fit into the existing aisle widths in the warehouse. Due to the 14m length of the I-joists, a 4-fork frame attachment was provided which can supply extra support to extremely long loads. The Combilift SL handles the long runs around the 8,5 acre site with ease, and looks after product from when it arrives to when it leaves: It offloads incoming I-joists from trucks, takes them to the storage area, retrieves them for positioning at the cutting machines and reloads onto Alsford’s fleet of artics for customer delivery.

Moving very long loads around a busy site is potentially hazardous, but with the Combilift, low level transportation of loads resting on the platform and improved visibility from the cab make life a lot easier for drivers. “We are constantly improving Health and Safety standards,” says Neil Fuller, “and the Combilift fits in perfectly with this policy.” In fact Neil has an award winning driver on his team: Roy Cleaver from Alsford’s Uckfield branch won the Southern regional heat of the Combilift Diver of the Year event, and will take part in the final in Ireland later in the year.

All Combilifts are manufactured by Combilift Ltd in Monaghan Ireland. The current range now encompasses over a dozen models with capacities ranging from 2.5 – 14 tonnes, with LPG, diesel or electric power available. The trucks are designed to work both inside and out, on semi-rough terrain and in all weather conditions. A team of design engineers at the Monaghan factory in Ireland will also draw up warehouse layouts, free of charge, to illustrate the best possible use of available storage space using the Combilift system.

Combilift Ltd.
Tel UK: 07815 314 990
Email: info@combilift.com
www.combilift.com

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