Combilift first focussed its attention on the container sector around 10 years ago when it launched its Combi-SC Straddle Carrier range. It has since developed a number of variants of this economical and flexible alternative to other heavy handling equipment, the latest of which is the Combi-IMSC Intermodal Straddle Carrier. This is aimed primarily for use at inland container terminals which typically handle lower volumes of containers compared to the main sea ports.
Conventional port straddle carriers are typically higher and wider and are designed to work at speed for a very quick turnaround. Their specifications often exceed what midsized intermodal terminals actually need, and can be very expensive for smaller operations which unload just a few trains per day and where margins can be tight. The Combi-IMSC fills a niche in the market by offering a cost-effective customisable solution. It is ideal for handling containers between a terminal’s rail siding and its storage/transport lane and operating, maintenance overheads and fuel costs are therefore lower than the higher-capacity products.
In contrast to Combilift’s regular Straddle Carriers, the IMSC is fitted with 8 wheels as standard, with two super-elastic puncture-proof tyres on each axle. It features a fully-enclosed high specification driver cab with air conditioning, joystick control and rotating seat which is positioned high off the ground for excellent visibility via the half glass floor. But in common with the other Combi-SC models, it benefits from a lighter footprint compared to other heavy handling equipment as it does not need to be counterbalanced. This avoids the need for costly investment in special infrastructure on site such as ground reinforcement, which can put yet more financial strain on midsized operations.
The load on each corner of the Combi-IMSC equates to half that of a typical reach stacker performing the same operation. As the machine can operate in a straight line alongside the train there is less need for sharp turns or reversing, which reduces impact on the ground surface to a minimum and significantly increases the life of the tyres. Also as the machine is equipped with multidirectional steering it can easily leave the rail track and carry out other loading, unloading, and stacking tasks in a different area of the terminal.
Combilift’s ability to customise the machine enables it lift other oversized loads for added versatility. Coil clamps, grapple arms and rotating forks are just some of the additional attachments that Combilift has manufactured or supplied for Combi-IMSC customers.
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