7 September 2021

Combilift has delivered the largest multi-directional forklift to come off its production line to modular data centre manufacturer BladeRoom.

The giant 30 T capacity C30,000 truck is now in operation at BladeRoom's factory in Gloucestershire, where it is ensuring the efficient handling of components for its server rooms, as well as the finished products, which are comparable in size to shipping containers and can weigh up to 19 T each.

This is a "second first" for BladeRoom, as it ordered a 25 T C25,000 model in 2010, which was at the time the largest C-Series that Combilift had built. This machine is still in operation at the Mitcheldean factory, along with a number of other Combilifts of varying load capacities, which handle raw materials such as RSJs and roof structures.

BladeRoom manufactures pre-engineered, factory-built, energy-efficient data centres fully fitted-out for immediate use and supplied within a much shorter time frame than traditional structures. This minimises customers' capital outlay and offers the lowest possible operational costs.

"The initial challenge for BladeRoom was how to easily, quickly and safely manoeuvre these extremely large loads in and around the site," says Rob Perry of HFT Forklifts Ltd (Hereford), BladeRoom's materials handling consultant and Combilift's dealer in the area. "Fixed cranes would have been too inflexible, and the sheer physical size of a counterbalance forklift capable of moving these structures would have taken up far too much space in the manufacturing area. Following the successful operation of the C25,000 over the years and the growing size and weight of the data centres, BladeRoom decided to scale up its newest Combilift."

The C30,000 measures around 5 m x 5 m, has a wheel base of 3,725 mm and is fitted with a John Deere Diesel 127 kW (170HP) engine. The machine incorporates customised features which enable the safe and stable lifting and transportation of BladeRoom's very oversized loads. These include four cameras (one of which is a reversing camera), with two camera monitors in the cab, red danger zone lights and a tilt indicator in the cab display. "It's a very impressive piece of machinery and, in spite of its size, its four-way ability enables it to move easily around the manufacturing facility," says Perry. "We are very proud of the fact that HFT was instrumental in supplying the largest Combilift C-Series model, not just in the UK, but worldwide.