Timber container loading system quicker and safer
A NEW MECHANISED ALTERNATIVE FOR loading long products is ideally suited to the forestry and timber industry.
Efficient loading of a container with sawn timber and board products for exports has long been a challenge, relying on a combination of forklifts and manual labour, but the new Combi-CSS makes it much easier.
“This is one of the most efficient ways to load containers with logs and processed timber,” says Combilift’s Dave Comber, adding that it was developed as a result of customer demand.
“Following the launch of the Combilift Straddle Carrier a number of years ago Combilift received feedback from customers in the containerisation sector who were looking for a mechanised, safer and quicker method,” he says.
This prompted Combilift to look at how these procedures could be improved and the engineers and R&D department came up with the container slip sheet, the Combi-CSS.
The traditional method uses a forklift to lift and manoeuvre the product laterally into the container, with another forklift operator pushing the product into the container from the end. But this entails risks, including strain on workers when lifting heavy and bulky items, the risk of slips, trips and falls and the potential for product damage.
“Forestry and timber products are also prone to damage if repeatedly handled by numerous forklifts and/or manual handling methods. This system lets companies ensure that they do not face substantial losses due to damaged goods,” says Dave.
In addition to being safer and requiring just one operator, the new system is also much quicker – a full load of product can be prepared behind the container on the slip sheet and loaded into a 20’ container in just three minutes, as opposed to the usual half an hour (and six minutes for a 40’ container). Plus, using the Slip Sheet minimises product damage during the loading process.
The patented Combi-CSS features a dualdirectional pulling mechanism, on which a steel sheet rests. Once loaded, the sheet is guided into the container by the pulling mechanism underneath, which consists of four hydraulic cylinders moving in sequence. Hydraulic pins on the ends of the cylinders move up, fitting into holes cut into the sheet to secure it, while the cylinders pull the sheet forward, ensuring safe loading without any risk of damage. Guide posts either side of the sheet ensure the exact positioning of the load.
Once the load is in the container, a hydraulic rear barrier gate, fixed to the end of the platform, swings across the container opening and is locked in place across the entire width of the platform. This holds the material within the container while the metal sheet is slipped out from underneath it, hence the name.
As well as being Combilift Container Straddle Carrier compatible the slip sheet platform can be connected directly onto the back of a trailer for a quick turnaround, being a free-standing unit, it is easily positioned wherever a container is sited.
The Combi-CSS can be manufactured and shipped anywhere in the world, with customers as far afield as Europe and South America.
“As far as New Zealand progress goes we have presented to a number of companies here,” says Dave.
“The slip sheet can potentially handle any uniform/palletised product that needs to be containerised.”
“The Combi Slip Sheet is in the production portfolio and we are ready to receive orders now for delivery in 2020,” he adds.
Price depends on model and exact customer specifications, says Dave: “Due to the increased productivity it offers it gives an excellent return on investment in a very short period of time.
“The system has been received very positively due to the improvements it offers in terms of safety around loading and unloading containers, and time saving and greater efficiency.”
NZL