Forklift company adopts CAD

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team May 17, 2007

A combination of SolidWorks, Cosmos, and the PDMWorks product data management tool has allowed Combilift to reduce product development time by 40%.

Combilift is using SolidWorks 3D CAD and Cosmos analysis software to design and test machines used to stack 40-foot long steel beams in tight spaces in customers' warehouses.

The combination of SolidWorks, Cosmos, and the PDMWorks product data management tool has allowed Combilift to reduce product development time by 40%.

The Combilift was the first invention to combine the attributes of a forklift and sideloader to help manufacturers better handle and store long and/or awkwardly shaped materials such as wood trusses, stairwell rails, PVC pipes, and pre-cast concrete.

It can not only lift long loads up to high shelves, but it can also fit into tight spaces in warehouse aisles.

Manufacturers using the Combilift maximise warehouse space and minimise damage to their products.

Ireland-based Combilift standardised on SolidWorks Office Premium, including CosmosWorks Designer for new product development to shorten design cycles, explore more design options, and eliminate system crashes.

"Autodesk Inventor had stability problems that frequently caused large models to crash".

"We spent a lot of time reloading drawings", said Les Smith, Design Engineer at Combilift.

"SolidWorks is more stable, and its design tables and large assembly features help us quickly customise designs to suit our customers' needs".

"It also can load large assemblies quickly".

"The dimensions of the forklift depend on the loads they carry and the space they work in".

The company designs each forklift based on the customer's warehouse floor plan.

Because most customers' floor plans are in 2D, Smith and the rest of the engineering team use SolidWorks DWGgateway to export SolidWorks models into 2D drawings to ensure the Combilift will fit in the aisles, have enough turning radius, and lift and extract the customer's material without damaging it.

Once engineers have calculated the correct 2D dimensions, they build a solid model in SolidWorks and test it in CosmosWorks Designer to ensure components such as attachments that support long loads can handle the dimensions and weight of the customer's material.

"We're all about reducing aisle space and increasing warehouse storage capacity".

"Combilift has a department dedicated to warehouse layouts".

"This service is offered free of charge to both potential and current customers", Smith said.

"SolidWorks allows us to be flexible in how we approach designs so we can overcome the challenges our customers' floor space presents".

Combilift uses PDMWorks Workgroup to manage all of the CAD data the company generates.

PDMWorks ensures version control and security while enabling multiple engineers to work on the same design concurrently, without introducing errors.

"Combilift has a great story about innovation and customisation", said SolidWorks Marketing Manager, Europe Simon Booker.

"Tailoring forklifts to fit their workspace and ensuring those forklifts can do their jobs is why Combilift has an impressive customer list including globally recognised brands like Alcoa, Lowe's, and Boise Cascade".

Combilift relies on authorised SolidWorks reseller Pentagon Solutions for ongoing software training, implementation, and support.