Hammerer Aluminium Industries (HAI), the Ranshofen, Austria headquartered company, considered as the hidden champions of the aluminium industry has shifted towards the usage of three multidirectional forklifts from the Irish manufacturer Combilift, to ensure the safer and more efficient handling of extrusion billets.
Combilift, the world’s fastest-growing manufacturer of multi-directional forklifts are now operational for the last few months at HAI displacing the previous sideloaders.
Christian Ertl, Group Manager of transport logistics casting commented: “Sideloaders had not exactly impressed us with their track record of reliability.”
Ertl with some of his team members from HAI’s finishing and loading division visited a steel processing plant in another region of Austria where Combilifts had been operational for some time to examine their competence and get the drivers opinions.
Ertl explained: “We like to involve those who will operate the trucks in the decision-making process and after seeing them in action we all agreed that Combilift’s products fitted the bill perfectly. The advantages of the 4-way concept that combines front and side loading technology are significant compared to conventional forklifts. The ability to turn the wheels with just the touch of a button to change the direction of travel is of great benefit, particularly in the packing station, where space is pretty limited.”
HAI has selected diesel-powered two 14t capacity C14000 models and an 8t C8000 truck as the best solutions for their robust operational requirements. The 7500 mm long and 1200 mm deep bundles of billets, which can weigh up to 7000 kg, need safe and efficient handling inside the production compound and packing station as well as stable transportation to the interim storage area outside. They also need to be able to cope with an intensive 4-shift schedule and clock up operational hours of around 3000 a year per truck.
Space is not only at a premium in the packing station but elsewhere on the premises, including the outdoor storage area, where the billets are stored on a cantilever racking up to a height of 3m, as well as the HGV loading zone. To maximize the available space, a guided-aisle system was implemented between the racking, enabling operational aisle widths to be narrowed down to just 3620mm. Telescopic forks, which can reach across the whole of the trailer bed, were fitted to the C14000 models to enable loading from just one side, once again enabling the best use of space.
The biggest advantage of Combilift is its ability to customize its products according to specific individual requirements, and this was the case at HAI too, to make the daily tasks of the drivers as straightforward as possible. The feature in HAI’s fleet comprises a reversing and fork camera, air conditioning, hands-free phone, and an air-suspension comfort seat. The high cab position guarantees maximum safety as it offers a clear overview of the load, the forks, and the direction of travel.
“These robust and powerful trucks from Combilift now ensure an efficient and more cost-effective operation. Thanks to the co-operation with the manufacturer as well as the excellent advice from Wiener Staplerund Fördertechnik, we were able to find a handling solution that meets all of our requirements,” Ertl concluded.
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