TPT November 2009

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Industry News
24 November 2009 ›
SCHOELLER Bleckmann Darron Ltd
(SBDL), Scotland, provides a manufacturing,
repair and maintenance facility for drilling
products used in the oil and gas sectors.
The company is benefitting from the versatile
capabilities of an eight-ton Combilift four-
way forklift, to ensure safe and space-saving
handling of long loads around its site.
Many of the products handled in the
offshore sector, such as down hole drilling
tools and pipes, are exceptionally long
and heavy, and therefore awkward to
handle with conventional forklifts such as
counterbalance trucks or sideloaders. Even
when a combination of the two are used,
safe operations are compromised by having
to swap loads around, and large areas of
potentially valuable space need to be set
aside for manoeuvring. By changing from
a conventional sideloader to a Combilift,
SBDL has been able to exploit the truck’s
manoeuvrability and four-way capabilities
to make the most of restricted yard space,
while ensuring efficient handling of its 10m
long loads.
Local material handling specialist
Groundwater Lift Trucks Ltd advised on the
current range of Combilifts and the available
customisation and attachments, and SBDL’s
production manager, Sandy Stephen, chose
the C8000 model as the most suitable:
“Although most of our loads weigh in at
around four tons, this gives us that added
flexibility to handle larger products, and it is
more than powerful enough to cope very well
with the steep gradient in the yard.”
The Combilift’s robust design
incorporates a minimum of sensitive
components together with super elastic
tyres that enable it to work inside and out,
in all weathers. As SBDL’s truck spends
approximately 70% of its time outside, it
is well equipped to withstand the Scottish
winter with no risk of operational downtime.
The diesel powered Combilift offloads
incoming materials from HGVs, transports
them around the facilities, works in
racking to a height of 4.6m, and reloads
refurbished parts back onto trucks for
dispatch to customers.
Four heavy-duty forks ensure the stable
handling of even the longest pieces of
equipment that SBDL handles, and health and
safety procedures have also been enhanced.
For operators, making the switch from
the sideloaders was straightforward.
Combilift’s ergonomic cab design and
joystick controls are simple to operate,
and its quick changeover to sideways
travel speeds up operations. Hydrostatic
drive for driving and braking also keeps
maintenance to a minimum.
The current Combilift range
encompasses fifteen base models with
capacities ranging from 2.5 to 14 tons, with
LPG, diesel or AC electric power.
Combilift Ltd – Ireland
Fax: +353 47 80501
Email:
Website:
Schoeller Bleckmann Darron – Scotland
Fax: +44 1224 770156
Email:
Website:
 SBDL’s Combilift C8000
FARRER, the environmental asset
management company, has won a two-
year contract for the Scottish water leakage
detection framework.
The contract, which runs from May 2009
is worth around £1mn and could increase to
around £7mn over the course of the frame-
work as more funding becomes available.
Farrer was awarded the contract due to
its “excellent reputation for the successful
delivery of leakage services in Scotland”.
Utilising the expertise of a 15-strong
team from Farrer, the framework will ensure
that with Farrer’s help, Scottish Water will
achieve stringent leakage targets over the
coming years.
Robin Pratt, senior project manager
for Farrer, said: “We’re delighted to have
our outstanding record for successful
leakage detection in Scotland recognised.
The contract with Scottish Water has
already begun and we’ll be continuing to
provide our client with the highest possible
standard of service to help it meet its
objectives.”
Farrer serves the water and waste water,
rail, airports, highways and local authority
sectors and is part of Biwater Services Ltd.
Farrer – UK
Fax: +44 17066 26294
Email:
Website:
Scots water leakage contract awarded
Four-way forklift for safe handling of long loads