Combilift: 15 years of lifting innovation

Before the arrival of the Combilift and its engine powered, all wheel drive multi-directional forklift, operations which needed to handle and store long loads tended to rely on a combination of other types of forklifts which were not designed for this requirement. In addition to possible safety issues, this was time consuming and required large areas to be set aside for manoeuvring and storing products.

The concept of a truck that could change the direction of its wheels to move forwards, backwards and side to side at just the touch of a button changed the face of materials handling if not almost overnight then at an unmatched pace in the industry: starting with 18 Combilifts produced in 1998, over 18,000 units have since been sold and what was once seen as a niche solution for a few select applications is now an industry standard.

As testimony to the robust build and longevity of the company’s products, the first ever Combilift, sold to builders’ provider JG Kelly, is still in operation today.

The ability to handle ever longer loads with Combilift’s range has changed practices and driven the market forward in a wide number of sectors such as the timber, steel, plastics and manufacturing industries to name but a few. Materials can now be delivered and offloaded in longer sizes to cut costs and increase productivity.

The availability of additional storage space allows stock such as steel to be bought in when the price is advantageous and stored for later use.

So what is the secret behind the success of this Irish company based in Monaghan and how did its range of products come to be working in 75 countries in locations as diverseas the Arctic Circle and the Middle East? MD Martin Mc Vicar attributes it to a number of factors: ongoing and substantial investment in R&D, enabling at least one new model to be launched for every year of the company’s existence; the support of a worldwide network of dealerships; the willingness to listen to customers to determine actual market demand and to supply tailor made machines.

He says: "Customer feedback has been pivotal for new product development and as there is no one typical set of requirements for individual applications our production line was configured at the outset to offer a very high degree of customisation. We also use standard and readily available components so that our products can be easily maintained and serviced wherever in the world they are being used.”

As for the future: "Our strategy is to double our turnover in the coming 5 years,” says Martin. "We are seeing significant sales increases in regions we recently entered such as the Far East, Central and South America. Demand in more traditional markets for our core range as well as new models continues to remain very buoyant. We will be launching a number of new models this year and we expect to produce in excess of 3000 units in 2013.”

For more information visit www.combilift.com

Tel: +353 47 80500