The new Combi-SBT swap body transporter can transport a variety of swap units up to a maximum of 50 t, from standard container swap bodies to concrete wall panels, from production to storage.
Incollaboration with several customers in the concrete industry, an amazing vehicle has been developed that significantly improves the handling of often difficult-to-transport materials. The features of this new model will also benefit companies in other sectors dealing with extremely oversized, heavy, or bulky loads. The machine is available with either diesel or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) propulsion. It has a 3-wheel design with six wheels to reduce ground pressure. The rear wheels are hydrostatically driven and steered from the front, providing excellent maneuverability.
Photos: Combilift
A pair of lifting platforms on the machine bed supports the load during transport. Controlling these platforms from the cab ensures the operator remains in a safe position while raising and lowering the load. The platforms can also be raised and lowered independently, allowing the machine to lift swap bodies that are not on level ground. The front platform is equipped with guides for ISO standard corner fittings, while the rear platform is not. Because only the front platform has guides, loading the swap body is effortless, as the operator only needs to align two guides. Once correctly positioned, these guides ensure the rear platform is also in the correct lifting position.
In terms of safety and all-around visibility, the Combi-SBT offers numerous advantages compared to a shunting truck with a trailer, where the operator drives "blind" with the load behind them. The cab is mounted at a 90° angle to the machine and off-center to the load, allowing for a 360° view of all areas of the machine. Thanks to additional mirrors and a reversing camera, there are no blind spots. The operator can complete a full cycle without having to leave the ergonomically designed, low-profile cab.
A large manufacturer of precast concrete elements had designed its plant for high production, but the amount of finished concrete stored in the factory hall was slowing production and reducing the safe working area. The company approached Combilift to explore the possibility of a faster product removal solution that could lift the concrete from below and operate in confined spaces. The result was the Combi-SBT. Cycle times between pours were reduced, increasing the workflow to 50-70 batches per day, each weighing 24 tons. The previous truck and trailer combination required two people to handle each load in about 15 minutes. With the Combi-SBT, which can reverse under the swap body and quickly lift the product from the ground into the transport position, this is now a one-person operation that takes only two minutes. The 3-wheel design also allows for trouble-free use in areas with compacted gravel where a perfectly level surface cannot be guaranteed.
