Selecting the right equipment is one thing, operating it efficiently and safely requires ongoing routines to ensure that the sparkly new machinery stays that way and pays for itself day in, day out, safely.

Combilift has worked hard over the last five years to bring its four-way truck into the market and take it to the top. With sales of over 240 in 2004 in the UK alone and a large global market, particularly in the US, Combilift has over 3,000 units in use today.

The Combilift machine encapsulates everything that’s relevant to almost any aspect of lifting equipment normally used in the UK timber trade, because its flexible profile means it can act as a sideloader or a counterbalance fork lift, on diesel or LPG.

James Latham plc currently operates from nine sites: Dudley, Gateshead, Ossett, Wigston and Yate (timber & panels), Eastleigh, Hemel Hempstead and Thurrock (panels) and Purfleet (timber).

Four years ago Lathams began to switch to Combilift machines and is now the leading operator with 22 LPG-fuelled units in constant use. Andy Duffin, who runs Lathams’ Yate operation and also controls group operations, explained: “We started at our brand new Hemel Hempstead site and now, at Yate, we’ve also invested in high level, narrow aisle racking, with guide rails to allow the Combilifts to ‘lock on’ as they travel along aisles. This reduces racking damage and improves safety, but we have also gained space in the yard to give better service to collection customers.”

The fork lift/sideloader versatility of a Combilift does require various changes to operational and maintenance procedures.

Safety and efficiency

Mark Buffham, product support manager, heads up Combilift’s training for operators and service engineers across the UK. Each of these issues is crucial to ensure that safety and efficiency go together.

“My background is in lifting equipment and implementing training has been a feature of my work for a large part of that time,” said Mr Buffham. “Converting to Combilift is easy for operators with an existing fork lift or sideloader licence and this is helped by our interactive video and learning documentation. This ensures that the operators remain safe by using the training system to provide low cost refresher sessions in-house.”

Servicing and general maintenance is equally important and Combilift arranges this, either through a customer’s own service provider, or through one of its 18 UK distributors.

Mr Duffin explained Lathams’ side of these arrangements: “We now have fewer trucks around the group and a more flexible handling system. However, none of that’s any use unless they’re all operating efficiently. We have our own maintenance contractor and they have been trained by Combilift, so they know how to fix breakdowns quickly.”

Norman Lamb is Lathams’ health and safety adviser. Based at the Yate office, he covers all of the comp-any’s sites and inevitably handling equipment is a key part of his remit. “Combilifts were being used before I joined the company two years ago, but they’re taking over more roles; their more controlled operation and excellent access capabilities are of great interest to me; both of these issues improve safety. Needless to say, the guided system for racking aisles is another asset.”

The work-rate issue is a classic case of balancing haste and speed; most operators know that fast approaches and departures while handling products often lead to damage or safety issues.

Safety has to be paramount and Lathams’ approach has always been the same. “We take safety very seriously; any handling equipment has to work within this ethos,” said Mr Lamb. “Our investment in Combilift trucks has been very significant.”

Near miss and accident reporting, together with a culture of openness and “no blame” all assist this and allow management to identify major risks, so that they can be dealt with efficiently. “We’d rather make an issue of it when incidents aren’t reported, so that everyone knows it’s better to let us know,” said Mr Lamb.