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Combilift unveils 2nd gen straddle carrier

Material handlings specialist Combilift has launched the second generation of its lightweight straddle carrier, the Combi-SC, on to the Australian market, Matt Wood was there

For regional and rural agri businesses who handle container freight on a regular basis, Combilift’s updated Combi-SC straddle carrier may well have some appeal in terms of cost, flexibility and the ability to operate on both uneven and even unpaved surfaces.

The Irish materials handling manufacturer has been pursuing a cost effective, flexible shipping container handler since 2008.

And the result is reported to be a machine that can be completely customised to suit the individual requirements of customers that comes in at around two thirds of the price of a heavy duty container handler.

The base model uses chains at the each corner of the machine to raise and manoeuvre both 20 and 40 ft containers. This unit can also double as a mobile gantry crane in a manufacturing environment.

However, Combilift now offers the SC with a 20-40 spreader attachment which means  the operator can lift containers up to 48 foot in size from ground level, load trucks and even double stack containers without leaving the cabin.

The Combi-SC has a safe working load of 35,000kg.

Combilift Product Manager and design engineer Meredith Hall says the machine is quite productive and with the spreader can move up to 20 containers per hour.

“It’s a versatile machine that can operate on broken concrete and even gravel, we can build the machine to suit specific site requirements,” Hall says.

The Combi-SC unit also has a side shift function to help line up twist locks in loading and stacking applications.

An interesting feature for businesses unloading grain or other commodities is the ability to tilt containers at angles up to 48 degrees.

The container handling machine provides a light tare weight alternative to heavy duty reach stackers and other tractor based machines which can often weigh between 70 and 80 ton unladen.

In comparison, the Combilift machine has a tare weight of between 16.5 and 22 ton depending on spec.

The relatively light footprint of the SC means that it can be operated on uneven surfaces and even gravel hardstand areas without the need for expensive resurfacing and re-enforced concrete area.

The gross weight of the machine at maximum operating weight tips the scales at 55 tons as opposed to a reach stacker that can come in at over 100 tons.

The straddle carrier is controlled from a side mounted cabin very close to the ground, removing the need to climb ladders and steps.

It also boasts a 4 litre 130hp John Deere turbo diesel engine which provides power through a central hydraulic pump to the hydrostatic drive wheel motors.

Find straddle carriers for sale on TradePlantEquipment.com.au

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