Combi-CS

Forkliftaction News continues sharing the results of the detailed testing for the 2020 IFOY (International Forklift and Intralogistics Solution of the Year) Awards. This week, we evaluate the single finalist in the lowlift category. Note that in the case of a single finalist in a category, the jury has to decide whether or not to present an award.

Combilift Combi-CS
The Combi-CS is a compact pedestrian stacker that can be used even in the most confined areas. The truck has a capacity of 1,000 kg and a lifting height of 2,500 mm. Its features include power steering, AC motor technology, rear-wheel drive and a patented multi-position tiller arm, unveiled on the PPT electro pallet truck nominated previously for an IFOY award.

The tiller can be turned to the left or right and enables push-button rotation of the rear wheel. This allows the operator to remain at the safest side when placing and picking in narrow aisles, providing full visibility of the load and forks, while maintaining full steering control and enabling greater awareness of their surroundings, which enhances overall safety.

Standing to the side of the stacker also eliminates the risk of being trapped or crushed while allowing the Combi-CS to operate in very narrow aisles. Even working in a narrower reach truck aisle is easy and safe. When working with euro-pallets, the required aisle width for this smallest variant is only 2.10 metres.

What is striking for this truck segment is the standard tilting mast. The mast can be tilted up to 2 degrees forward and up to 5 degrees backward, ensuring that the load remains safely on the fork while driving. However, simultaneous lifting and tilting is not possible.

The dual side-by-side front wheels provide maximum wheel base length and reduce wheel scrub when making tight turns. The rear 2.5 kW drive wheel coupled with low effort power steering provides the operator with maximum traction and control of the truck.

The IFOY test truck is the lightest version in the CS range, with a lifting capacity of 1,000 kg. The truck has a 24V/375 Ah battery and reached maximum speeds of 5 km/h in the IFOY Test. As standard, Combilift provides the stacker with cantilever forks.

Typical of the Combilift tradition, the truck is robust and very solidly built. The modern display on the tiller informs the user of wheel position, driving direction and battery status. The number of operating hours, the turtle or hare and the possibly activated parking brake can also be seen.

Working with the Combi-CS is intuitive but needs attention. The truck can be precisely steered and operated when driven with care. The shrill beep, when driving in the fork direction and when lowering the fork, may cause irritation, the testers think.

IFOY test verdict:
The Combi-CS is compact and manoeuvrable and has a small turning circle thanks to its short wheel base. Equipped with Combilift's patented multi-position tiller arm, the truck offers safer operation, optimised operator visibility and narrow aisle performance. The short wheelbase requires some getting used to, as does the electric steering.