Space4 chooses Combilift

Timber frame manufacturer Space4 has taken delivery of a second fleet of Combilift four-way forklift trucks to enhance its handling.

The trucks, two four-tonne and two six-tonne models, will be used to handle raw materials, as well as finished products at the company's 220,000ft² factory in Castle Bromwich, Birmingham. The six-tonne models will load finished panels horizontally in line with Space4 parent company Persimmon's preferred delivery procedure.

Space4 took delivery of four four-tonne Combilift four-way forklifts in 2001, with a fifth purchased in 2003, which allowed it to increase shifts from one a week to three and improve its handling of incoming and outgoing goods.

"As well as dealing with very bulky raw materials, our finished product such as 12m lenghts of floor cassettes and 2.7m-high side panels, are very difficult to handle," said Space4 site services manager Bob Preston.

"Add the layout of the factory into the equation and you have the need for a very special piece of handling equipment."

Space4 consulted handling specialist Abex Ltd on the technical specification of the trucks, with narrower, longer forks added for holding side panels and a spreader bar for long floor and ceiling cassettes.