Showtime for Combilift at Ligna

In the four years since the last Ligna took place, Irish handling specialist Combilift has been busy introducing new models, finessing technology and expanding its global markets even further.

Ligna 2023 also coincides with the company’s 25th anniversary, and visitors will experience an action packed stand in the heart of the outdoor area. The company’s innovations and new product launches will be the main focus but Combilift also likes to entertain as well as inform, so expect dancing trucks, Irish music and refreshments too.

Around 16 exhibits will demonstrate that Combilift has a solution for pretty much every handling and storage scenario that companies in the timber, joinery and furniture sectors face, and these range from small pedestrian 1000kg capacity stackers to straddle carriers and mobile gantries which can lift loads of 100,000kg and over.

So let’s take a virtual walk around the stand to pick out some of this year’s highlights. Starting at the back we have two of the largest Combilift models, the Combi-SC Straddle Carrier and the Combi-CSS Slip Sheet, both of which guarantee safer and more productive operation when working with containers. The Combi-CSS, premiered at the last Ligna, was designed for fast loading of freight containers. It allows a full container load cycle can be completed in under six minutes, and also keeps the risk of product damage to a minimum.

To the side of the straddle carrier we find a couple of the compact counterbalance design CombiCBE models and Combi-MR4, described at its launch last year as ‘taking multidirectional capability to the next level’ with its new Dynamic 360° ™ steering. These will be used for the very popular dancing forklifts routine that is always guaranteed to draw a crowd – and which demonstrates the unrivalled manoeuvrability of the trucks as well as the skill of the drivers.

As part of the 25th anniversary celebrations there will be an unveiling of a new model in Hannover, so there will be at least one machine under wraps until the first day of the show.

On our virtual tour it is apparent that the majority of the exhibits are electric, so it is more than likely that this new addition to the portfolio will be an emissionfree, quiet machine that enables customers to reduce their carbon footprint whilst benefiting from the powerful performance that is now offered by the new generation of electric handling equipment.

Our tour also takes in the Aisle Master articulated truck that is ready to demonstrate its narrow aisle capability within racking, and the Combi-WR4, a multi-directional pedestrian reach stacker that can handle pallets as well as long packs of timber.

“2023 is a very special year for us,” said Combilift MD Martin McVicar,“ and Ligna has always been an important event so it is a perfect framework for celebrating 25 years in business and the launch of numerous new models.”