Richard Burbidge, a leading supplier of timber stair parts, decorative mouldings and outdoor balustrading has taken delivery of a Combi-CB 4-way forklift to speed up materials handling procedures at its manufacturing facility and HQ in Oswestry. This compact Combilift model has also contributed to much more efficient use of storage space in the warehouse feeding the production area.
Richard Burbidge was an early convert to the Combilift 4-way system, and has two of the Combilift “core” C4000 trucks in use at the site to offload and handle heavy raw materials such as packs of timber, but also needed an additional truck that could handle a mix of pallets and long loads as well as feed lines in the production facility when necessary. Manufacturing Engineer Mark Chorlton and his team evaluated a wide range of options including articulated trucks and other electric 4-way brands before settling on the 2.5t capacity Combi-CB, recommended by Abex Ltd, Combilift’s official distributor in the West Midlands. “The CB’s versatility to work indoors and out together with the counterbalance design was very attractive,“ says Mark, “and the video on the Combilift website clearly demonstrated its extreme manoeuvrability.”
In consultation with Abex and Richard Burbidge’s team, Combilift design engineers in Monaghan supplied numerous layout diagrams and this three way collaboration resulted in a CB specified to Richard Burbidge’s exact requirements to work in a racking configuration designed for the optimum use of all available space in the warehouse. The diesel powered model has side shift as standard, and due to limited headroom Abex recommended a 4.9m triplex mast. Richard Burbidge also opted to have a hydraulic fork positioner fitted: one of a number of attachment options offered by Combilift, this allows for quick hydraulic adjustments of the forks to fit the varying sizes of loads which Richard Burbidge handle such as pallets, 8ft long stillages and packs of board. Driver Paul Bebbington: “as the fork positioners can be operated from inside the cab we do not need to keep getting on and off the truck, and this is a real time saver.”
Picking and storing product has been further speeded up by the CB’s ability to turn on its axis: once in the aisle, the driver can move loads from one side of the racking to another by turning 180º, eliminating time-consuming travel in and out of the racking. “The truck’s capability to ‘turn on a sixpence’ as well as its ability to access floor level storage has boosted productivity at a busy site,” says Mark. “The drivers also appreciate its easy operation, the roomy cab and good visibility. In short the Combi-CB has become an integral part of our operations and we would be stuck without it.”
The Combi-CB is Combilift’s smallest product in the company’s range and is available with 2.5 and 3t lift capacities and diesel, LP Gas or electric power options. Combilift 4-way forklifts are all designed and built in Monaghan, Ireland, where the company also has its HQ and R&D facility. The current range now encompasses at least fifteen base models with capacities ranging from 2.5 – 25 tonnes. Combilift has won numerous awards for its products since the company was established in 1998, and there are now around 11,000 units in operation around the world.
Richard Burbidge supplies a wide range of balustrade systems for interior and exterior use in domestic and light commercial buildings, as well as an extensive range of timber mouldings. Log on to www.richardburbidge.com to find out more, or for further information on the full range of balustrade and mouldings available from Richard Burbidge, please call 01691 655131.
Combilift Ltd
Ireland Tel: 00353 47 80500
UK Tel: 07870 976 758
Email: info@combilift.com
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