The Rubner Group, one of Europe’s leading timber construction companies, was founded in 1926 and is now managed by the third generation of the Rubner family. From its original base in South Tyrol the company has expanded to 20 locations in four countries where it employs a workforce of around 1,300. Thanks to its expertise in complex and innovative timber engineering solutions it has amassed an impressive portfolio of projects in locations around the world.
The company’s Austrian facility in Ober- Grafendorf is one of the most advanced of its kind for glulam manufacturing and can produce 85,000m3 of components a year. A Combi-SC straddle carrier was delivered to this site as part of an initiative to ensure leaner operations by reconfiguring and repurposing storage and production spaces.
Rubner previously used a combination of fixed overhead cranes and conventional forklifts to handle its loads – which can be as long as 25m, but the limited manoeuvrability of this system was not in line with the plans for optimum use of the new converted areas.
The ability of the Combi-SC to move itself as well as its loads independently around the premises has enabled significant improvements to be made. The dedicated area for storing finished products and loading them onto delivery trucks has been moved outside, freeing up substantial extra space in the under-cover hall for production. The Combi-SC can also stack loads in close proximity to each other, which has enabled maximum storage density in the loading bays.
Combilift’s SC models are designed and built to individual customer specifications – much like Rubner’s customised constructions. Collaboration between both companies resulted in specifications for the 27 tonne capacity unit, which took into account the extreme length and maximum weight of loads as well as other factors such as the ceiling height in the production hall.
A special 16m-long attachment with variable lifting points enables the smooth and stable transport of the most extreme loads. Thanks to the telescopic facility the Combi- SC can travel through the low doors to pick up loads, bring them outside and then place them on waiting trailers with just one lifting operation.
The structural components of the Combi-SC arrived in Ober-Grafendorf in a container and the unit was assembled on-site with the help of a Combilift engineer.
The three-wheel design, two-wheel drive, two-wheel steering and hydrostatic drive of the Combi-SC ensure much more manoeuvrable and flexible operation on the factory site compared with the cranes. Rubner Holzbau opted for a remote-controlled model, which offers further advantages in terms of safety and productivity. The operator benefits from the best possible all-round view of the load and surroundings, and this also eliminates the need for extra personnel in the form of a banksman.
“Since we have been using the Combi- SC we have noticed many operational advantages,” said Walter Seiberl, operations manager.
“For example, to ensure that transportation of products to our customers is as cost effective as possible, we like to make our consignments as large as possible too – whilst of course adhering to road traffic regulations.
“There are not many pieces of equipment that are up to the job of handling the loads we deal with, but when we saw a demo of a Combi-SC at a Ligna show in Hannover we were won over by its capabilities. The good collaboration with Combilift personnel in Ireland resulted in a solution that is 100% fit for our needs. In addition to the optimum use of space, we have also reduced loading times and improved safety for our employees.”
