Combilift’s 10th anniversary

Combilift Ltd, the world’s leading supplier of long load handling solutions, recently celebrated its tenth anniversary with an event that attracted over 100 journalists and key customers from around the world to the company’s global HQ in Monaghan, Ireland. Visitors from across Europe and as far away as Australia and North America enjoyed a full programme of events including helicopter trips piloted by Combilift’s technical director Robert Moffett, the final of the UK Driver of the Year Competition, “dancing forklifts” a press conference and visits to local Combilift customers.

New Model Launch
The main event on the day was the launch of a new Combilift model, the Combi-CB. This is a compact model, measuring just 1,5m square excluding forks, and this new product once again demonstrates the innovation for which the company has become known. MD Martin McVicar explains the reasons for its development: “We noticed a while back that there was a sizeable number of potential clients who handled mainly palletised loads, and just a small amount of long product, so a conventional Combilift was not the answer for them. The Combi-CB enables space saving 4-way handling of both palletised goods and long loads, and it can also work in containers for streamlined offloading and transportation of product around the premises.” Combilift has expanded its premises by 20,000ft2 to cope with the additional volume of output. This new model will increase Combilift’s turnover by €10m during 2009, and create 20 additional jobs, on top of the 200 currently employed.

Factory Tours and Customer Visits
Attendees had the opportunity to talk to Combilift engineers and watch the design process in action during tours of the premises, and visits to the assembly lines gave an insight into the production processes of the wide range of Combilift models available. There was also a visit to see the Combi-CB in action at one of the first customers to sign up for this new model. Maurice Graham Builders’ Providers stocks the very diverse range of product that one would expect to find at a traditional merchants, and uses a 4t conventional Combilift for handling packs of timber and bundles of steel. In another area, pallet racking is used for the storage of other products such as pallets of cement and packs of insulated board and panel products. The versatility of the new all-round Combi-CB lends itself perfectly to such a scenario as it copes easily with the palletised goods, but can also be deployed for handling longer products such as boards or pipes when necessary.

Driver of the Year Final
There were plenty of spectators watching the four regional finalists of the UK Driver of the Year Competition battle it out for the title of 2008 Champion. The contestants were: South: Roy Cleaver from Alsford Timber, North: Mark Thompson from GAP, Midlands: Alan Cooper from Timbmet, N. Ireland: Jeff Cairns from Sam Mouldings. These drivers all demonstrated their considerable skills in controlling and manoeuvering a C4000 Combilift throughout a tricky course devised by Combilift together with leading training provider Mentor Training. They had to cope with much narrower aisle widths than would typically be experienced in the workplace, against the clock, with penalties for unsafe operation. As they were also doing all of this in front of an international audience, it was a test of nerves as well as ability. Mentor’s Neil Beard was on hand to judge the performances and add up the scores. The trophy for the overall 2008 champion went to Alan Cooper, who works at the Shellingford branch of timber supplier Timbmet.

Dancing Trucks
The newly formed Combilift CB Display Team gave Riverdance a run for its money by demonstrating the extreme manoeuvrability of the new Combi-CB with a precisely choreographed and very entertaining “dance routine”. A video of this can be found on the Combilift website under the “news” section.

Praise from the Minister
Speaking at a dinner reception in the evening, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Brendan Smith praised the contribution that Combilift has made to the local as well as national economy, stressed the importance of innovation in the current market, and thanked the assembled customers, journalists, distributors and employees for their continued support.

10 Years Of Innovation…

1998
Martin McVicar and Robert Moffett, both formerly of truck-mounted specialist Moffett Engineering, establish Combilift Ltd. to manufacture and market the world’s first all wheel drive engine-powered multi-directional forklift. The versatile Combilift, designed for the safe and space-saving handling of long and bulky loads in confined spaces filled a gap in the materials handling market. The first Combilift to roll off the production line was sold to Monaghan based JG Kelly Supplies, where it is still in operation. Combilift Ltd started its export drive, by appointing distributors and selling trucks into Norway, Benelux and France.

1999
Exports to the UK, Germany, Finland and North America are initiated. Initial customers around the world reacted enthusiastically, realising that using a Combilift rather than a combination of, say, counterbalance forklift for loading / offloading and narrow aisle truck for storing goods in the warehouse, would bring multiple advantages: reduced numbers of forklifts and operators, quicker operations due to elimination of multiple handling, and major reductions in product damage to long, non palletised materials such as timber and PVC extrusions.

2000
The 1999 output of 130 units more than doubles, and other sectors such as the steel and aluminium industries are supplied.

2001
Combilift wins prizes! The company is awarded the title of DHL Exporter of the year, and Martin McVicar is named Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

2002
The model range diversifies with the introduction of the 2.5t Combilift and the development of larger trucks with capacities of up to 10t. New applications continue to emerge as a result of this. Sales in over 40 countries are recorded, and the floor space at the original factory grows to accommodate increased production.

2003
Over 650 units are manufactured, and it’s time to move. With no room left for expansion, Combilift acquires a new site in Monaghan town and starts to build what is now its global headquarters, state of the art manufacturing facility and R&D centre.

2004
The 500th UK truck is sold to a major timber and panels supplier. New models this year include the 4-way SL sideloader, and electric power is also now available on selected Combilifts. The SL was developed in response to feedback from traditional sideloader users who indicated a need for a more manoeuvrable machine which could provide better storage density and block stack, whilst still able to work in their pre-existing aisle widths.

2005
The UK Fork Lift Truck Association awards Combilift the Design Achievement Award. Combilift USA is Incorporated in Greensboro, NC, to offer local technical assistance and Parts Supply to support the North American Growth.

2006
Annual production rises to 1,500 units. Irish Enterprise and Employment Minister Micheál Martin officially opens Combilift’s new premises in June at an event attended by over 400 people from around the world.

2007
Combilift unveils its largest model to date – a 14t capacity truck, at Promat in Chicago and at the IMHX exhibition in Birmingham. Combilift Australia is established. Sales now recorded in over 50 countries.

2008
Combilift is now the proven global market leader in the long load handling sector, and continues to widen its product range. As each Combilift is made to order, the original company slogan of “customised handling solutions” still holds firm. From the outset, the company has been known for its innovation, and innovation continues to be Combilift’s hallmark. 9,500 units will be in operation by the end of 2008.

Combilift Ltd
Tel UK: 07815 314990
Email: info@combilift.com
www.combilift.com