Schlam Payload has achieved significant gains in efficiency and safety for handling its Hercules dump bodies through the adoption of Combilift Straddle Carriers, as well as improving load times and commitment to safety.
Logistics in mining often presents a significant challenge, particularly when it comes to moving and storing large-scale equipment and attachments.
Few know this better than Schlam Payload’s production manager Andrew Turner, who understands the critical role on-site logistics plays in enhancing manufacturing efficiency and ensuring timely deliveries to customers.
“To meet the growing demand for our products, we recently expanded our main manufacturing facility in Western Australia by 50 per cent and incorporated advanced manufacturing technologies, including robotics,” Turner said.
“With this increase in production, we also identified the need to enhance our loading and dispatch efficiencies. This ensures faster delivery to our customers without compromising safety standards.”
Schlam is a global leader in payload solutions, renowned for its Hercules haul truck bodies and Barracuda mining buckets. Each Schlam product is meticulously engineered to address site-specific payload challenges, optimising productivity for mining operations worldwide.
“The ability to deliver on time and within budget is central to our commitment to providing exceptional customer experiences,” Turner said. “Improving our logistics efficiencies became a critical element of our broader manufacturing investment strategy.”
With clients spanning the globe, Schlam faces tight delivery deadlines, requiring precise logistics to meet expectations. The unique design of the Hercules body, however, posed particular challenges. Historically, the company relied on cranes and external logistics providers, requiring intricate coordination and introducing timing and safety complexities.
Enter Combilift’s Straddle Carrier
Schlam approached Combilift seeking a more efficient, self-contained solution. Combilift’s Straddle Carrier quickly proved to be the perfect fit, offering enhanced control, shorter load times, and superior safety in a compact area.
“Schlam needed more than efficiency; they needed a solution suited to Hercules’s dimensions,” Combilift Straddle Carrier product manager Jarad Wilson said.
By adopting the Straddle Carrier, Schlam reduced loading times by more than 50 per cent. What once took two or three days to handle multiple Hercules units now takes a single afternoon for up to 10 bodies. This efficiency minimises delays, allowing Schlam to meet varying client and transportation schedules with minimal coordination.
Safety and flexibility in operations
Safety remains a priority in materials handling, particularly for substantial, heavy loads. The Combilift Straddle Carrier incorporates multipoint lifts, reducing the need for personnel on the ground and addressing the risks posed by traditional single-point lifts.
“With the Straddle Carrier, we’ve achieved a safer process with fewer people involved, and the efficiency gains speak for themselves,” Turner said.
The Carrier’s safety features – bump stops and emergency stops at each corner – enhance operational safety. The unit’s side-shift capability also allows Schlam to handle smaller items within the machine’s body, optimising limited storage space.
Streamlining maintenance with remote diagnostics
Equipped with remote diagnostics, the Combilift Straddle Carrier enables Schlam to address issues in real time by connecting directly to Combilift’s support.
“We provide training for operators, guiding them through the safe use of the Straddle Carrier, and then continue to support the customer with technical assistance for service and maintenance,” Wilson said. “We can also remotely access the machine from our headquarters in Ireland to run diagnostics on the control system, which has proven to be an invaluable tool for identifying specific issues.”
Schlam’s collaboration with Combilift highlights shared values of safety, innovation, and tailored solutions.
“Our relationship with Combilift started a long time ago,” Turner said. “Their focus on engineered solutions aligns well with our products and the way we serve our customers, which was important to us.”
Asked the difference the Combilift Straddle Carrier has made in Schlam’s operations, Turner summed things up simply: “It’s just a far easier, simpler, and more pleasant experience working with Combilift than it was before.”
