South Australian freight and logistics specialist, Railroad Transport, is the first company in Australia to take delivery of the new Combilift Combi-SC Top-Lift straddle carrier.
The Combi-SC will be utilised within Railroad Transport’s Melbourne site to ensure the development of more efficient container handling. Using its top-lift spreader, the unit can grip and pick up the container using four twist locks. The 20/40 spreader can be adjusted to handle 20ft and 40ft containers, controlled by a flick of a switch from within the cab.
According to Railroad Transport Director, Craig Hammond, the speed in which containers can be handled with the Combilift system, means it can now able to handle 20 containers an hour, equating to around 160 on a daily basis. The lightweight build of the Combi-SC also enables the unit to work easily on rough ground, avoiding the costs and disruption associated with surface reinforcement across the site.
“It is a very efficient unit. Our operators can now control both the fixing and lifting functions from the cab without them having to step out,” Hammond said.
“Our policy is to keep the operators within the cabs for as many operations as possible. The ability of the machine to telescope down to fit containers under the canopy for de-stuffing increases the advantages from a health and safety point of view.”
General Manager of Combilift Australia, Chris Walker, said the unit will also help operators to save on fuel. “In side-loaders, for example, you still need the assistance of a prime mover, therefore you have to power two engines, which increases fuel costs,” he said.
“However, the Combi-SC is fitted with a 125 hp John Deere engine that offers 30 per cent more power than on our earlier models. It takes just around one litre of fuel to move a container with the Combi-SC Top-Lift compared to five litres with the ‘dual machine’ system, so the savings on fuel costs are substantial.”
The Combi-SC Top-Lift straddle carrier was designed and manufactured by Irish load handling solutions company, Combilift Ltd, before it was delivered to Railroad Transport via Combilift Australia.
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