Sustainability begins at home

The impact of climate change and the consequent push to cut carbon emissions has never been higher on the agenda, and companies are keen to point out how their products can help customers to achieve these aims. But sustainability can also begin at home, and this has always been an overriding priority for Combilift, and one which influenced the design and build of our new global HQ in Monaghan, which was officially opened in 2018.  

First I’d like to explain a few key facts about our range of materials handling solutions and how they can enable greener operations for our customers, as this may not be immediately obvious in the context of industrial vehicles. All our products have sustainability at their core, designed to maximise efficiency, storage capacity and improve safety. Our multidirectional “3 forklifts in 1” models, for example, work inside and out and can significantly reduce the size of fleet required. The ability of these trucks to work in narrow confines even when carrying long loads can create up to 50% more space. 

Increasing cube utilisation by constructing narrower aisles and taller pallet racks is another effective way to get the most out of your warehouse space. This avoids the need to expand the size of a facility in times of growth, resulting in fewer new builds and lower energy consumption for heating and lighting, for significant reduction in the physical and therefore carbon footprint.

Combilift offers a free logistic and warehouse layout design service to enable customers to visualise the capacity for space saving and improved workflow efficiency on site. A team of highly experienced engineers design, plan and produce material flow analyses and 3-D animations for our worldwide customers, which can be done within a turnaround of just 24 hours.  

When Combilift was established in 1998, diesel was universally acknowledged as the mainstream power source for heavy lifting equipment, but as is the case with the automotive industry, technology has advanced to offer viable and greener alternatives. 60% of our products are now electric powered for zero emission operation, and we are introducing more electric models across the range on a regular basis. 

As electric trucks are much quieter than their LPG or diesel counterparts, noise pollution, which can impact on the health and well-being of people as well as wildlife, is no longer an issue. Drivers, the workforce and visitors on site appreciate the quiet operation, as do neighbouring residents and businesses, particularly in urban areas. With no engines or transmission in electric trucks, further benefits are reduced maintenance costs and longer service intervals, as there is no longer any need to check and top up fluids, lubricants, coolants or oils. The growing demand for electric power reflects the wishes of our customers, who are as committed to sustainability and a circular economy as we are. In regions or for applications where diesel and LPG is still preferred, our engines adhere to the strictest emissions and efficiency guidelines. 

The construction of our 46,000 sim facility began in 2015, and from the outset we aimed to incorporate the latest and most innovative and energy efficient manufacturing processes with a focus on sustainability and the well-being of the workforce. Starting with a clean sheet ensured that no compromises had to be made, and we used local suppliers wherever possible for raw materials such as the stone, cement and steel required for the initial build phase to minimise transport miles. And a large proportion of our annual procurement is still sourced within Ireland, which continues to sustain the local economy.     

Daylighting technology means that 30% of our roof space is covered in skylights, enabling staff to work in a natural daylight environment with 173% more white light exposure. Large floor to ceiling windows increase the overall natural light inside the building to 84%. When artificial lighting is required it is supplied by LED lights with PIR sensors allowing for daylight dimming and areas of the factory not in use to be switched off automatically.

A 1Mw biomass boiler is used to provide heating for paint spray ovens and assembly lines. The biomass is fueled by supplier pallets, and we have also planted 40 acres of willow on Combilift land by the factory to ensure sufficient ongoing supplies. Solar panels provide 185kW of energy which generate 10% of our daily electricity usage. A 110,000 litre rain harvest tank collects and stores rainwater which is used for jet washing and bathroom facilities.

The Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) levels that are contained in solvent based paints have a detrimental effect on the environment and contribute significantly to air pollution. Combilift has switched to water-based paints that were developed specifically for the company, and this technology has 74% fewer VOCs than regular solvent-based paints to keep levels as low as possible.

And finally a few further statistics which demonstrate our commitment to recycling and reusing materials to conserve natural resources. 92% of all components used in the truck assembly are 100% recyclable; 90% of our electric trucks’ batteries are recycled;  we are on track to save over 473 tons of CO2 by using carbon neutral wood chip instead of gas for heating within the factory; parts are stocked locally by 300 dealers in over 85 countries, eliminating unnecessary airfreight. We like to think that from this small corner of Monaghan, Ireland, we are helping our customers in over 85 countries to do their bit for a sustainable future!  

Martin McVicar is CEO and co-founder of Combilift

For more information:

http://combilift.com

Tel: +353 (0)47 80500