Headquartered in Monaghan, Ireland, Combilift is the leading global supplier of customised and innovative handling solutions for a wide range of applications across varied industry sectors. Always a step ahead of other manufacturers, Combilift offers the most extensive portfolio of specialist and multidirectional products to ensure safe, space saving, cost effective and very productive materials handling of long loads, pallets, containers and oversized products. Combilift exports to more than 75 countries and over 36,000 units have been produced since the company was established. Martin McVicar, Managing Director at Combilift Limited, spoke to Warehouse & Logistics News.

Martin McVicar
Managing Director, Combilift Limited

WLN – What are your best-known products and services?

Combilift originally made its mark in the materials handling sector when it introduced the world’s first IC engine powered, all-wheel drive multidirectional forklift, but we are now increasingly well known for our ability to develop innovative products to address very diverse requirements. Our range now includes Straddle Carriers, Aisle-Master VNA articulated trucks, stand-on models as well as our ever expanding offering of pedestrian trucks such as the Combi-WR and Combi-CS models. Our free of charge warehouse design and logistic audit service is also very popular with customers. Layout plans and 3D simulations illustrate the full space saving potential of our products and the level of improvement that can be achieved.

WLN – Which market sectors and countries are your customers in? Which ones are growing fastest?

We have a worldwide presence and an extensive dealer network to support our customers and products in whatever corner of the globe they are working in. The industry sectors we supply are varied and growing; manufacturing, metal stockholders, sawmills, warehousing and 3PLs – the list is endless really. Any company that wants to optimise handling procedures will find a solution with one of our products. The demand for our straddle carrier range continues to grow, from shipping and distribution operations handling containers and also from companies such as steel manufacturers wanting to ensure the safe and efficient movement of extremely heavy and oversized loads.

WLN – How do your products benefit your customers’ businesses?

Across the board really. The core advantages of our products; safety, space saving and productivity allow for substantial improvements. Increasing storage capacity leads to a smaller warehouse footprint for reduced outlay on premises and overheads. Safety is a number one priority for any business and our products are designed to offer the safest operating environments for personnel. Multidirectional capability enables low level handling and safe movement of extreme (and therefore potentially hazardous) loads around the premises. Thanks to faster throughput times with our products our customers can offer a better service to their own clientele.

WLN – Why should customers choose you as their main supplier in your area?

We have carved out a reputation as a company that delivers exactly what our customers need to do the job whilst saving them money. Substantial investment of 7% of turnover in R&D keeps us at the forefront of innovation and means that our time to market for new products is exceptionally fast. Our track record for innovation means that when companies are faced with challenges, they know who to turn to for a solution.

The straightforward design, the use of readily available standard components for easy maintenance and the excellent ROI that our products guarantee also marks us out in the sector. More and more forklift dealerships are gravitating towards our products due to the higher residual value that they offer compared with other brands.

WLN – What’s business been like in the past year? How have conditions changed over this period and how have you reacted?

We’ve had a very good year and increased turnover by 20% compared to 2016. The UK makes up 25% of our market and unit sales in this region are up by more than 20% on 2016. We are currently struggling to increase production fast enough to meet demand.

WLN – What were the business highlights for you in the last 12 months?

As well as continuing to work with companies of all sizes, we have had major success with international corporations and new regional markets, in particular in the warehousing sector. Aisle-Master is now the largest producer of VNA articulated trucks worldwide and in March we signed a contract worth around €1m with Kingfisher, Europe’s largest home improvement retailer, to deliver a mix of Aisle-Masters and Combi- WR pedestrian machines to the company’s French outlets. Homebase, which is now part of the Australian Bunnings Warehouse, has taken over 40 Combi-WR pedestrian units.

We launched the Straddle Carrier in Singapore and we recently cemented a substantial deal for a number of Combi-SCs for Civmec, an Australian construction and engineering company. The first of these to be delivered will be the largest machine we have sold into the Australian market to date with a lift capacity of 90 tonnes.

WLN – What new products have you brought out?

We introduce at least one new model each year, and we officially launched two models in 2017; one at the Ligna trade fair in Hanover in May and another at the GIS show in Italy in October. These both augment our electric powered model range.

The Combi-MR is a stand-on multidirectional reach truck (with a sit-down option) which offers extreme manoeuvrability in confined areas. Its unique steering function enables seamless switching of the direction of travel and allows the operator to perform compact turns. It is a 4- wheeled model with a large single drive wheel, fitted with a 400 mm diameter rubber tyre with 360° steering rotation. This is positioned at the rear right hand corner to enable convenient low level entry and exit for the operator. The rear articulated axle provides maximum traction and a smooth ride even across uneven surfaces. With a lift capacity of 2,300kg, it comes with optional lift heights. A number of features guarantee a very safe working environment for the operator and other personnel and this model has been shortlisted as a finalist in the safety category of the 2018 FLTA awards.

The new Combi-CBE 4t, with a lift capacity of 4,000kg, is based on the original and very successful Combi-CB which we launched in 2008. This was developed in response to a specific customer request for heavier lift capacities on electric forklift trucks – up to now the Combi-CB electric models have been available with a maximum lift capacity of 3,000kg, so this offers a wider range of applications.

WLN –What factors do you see affecting your business in the coming year? How will you turn these into opportunities?

Well we can’t ignore Brexit – and the biggest issue at the moment is the uncertainty that it is creating. If the UK economy enters a recession and construction and activity falls, this will have an impact on Combilift. But as our products offers solutions and cost savings to our customers we are confident that whatever occurs, our presence in the UK will continue to be a growth market for us – we treat it as our home market. Brexit has also given us the impetus to invest even more in R&D and we are confident that this will enable us to launch more than two new products in 2018.

WLN – Are you investing in new premises and extra staff? What about staff development and training?

As readers will have seen this year, we have made a major investment of €46m in our new 46,000m² facility, which will be the largest single manufacturing unit under one roof in Ireland. We are now gradually moving all productions lines over to it before the official opening in May 2018. This also coincides with Combilift’s 20th anniversary so is a significant milestone in our company’s history. This expansion will enable us to double our output and turnover in the next few years and will also create around 200 new jobs, mainly for skilled technicians and design engineers.

To develop a locally based skilled work force Combilift runs the OEM Traineeship in Engineering & Manufacturing Technology in conjunction with the local education board. The one-year long traineeship involves work-based learning placements at Combilift and theoretical and practical training in the local FE College. This mix means that trainees are job ready on graduation. The programme is entering its 3rd year and 20 students are participating in the programme.

WLN – Are you involved in any major trade shows or other industry events over the next year?

We have a busy events calendar as always and are exhibiting in most continents in 2018. In the UK we are booked for a number of shows such as MACH, the Health & Safety Event, the CV show and TCS&D. And major international shows such as LogiMAT in Germany and Modex in Atlanta are on the agenda too.

WLN –What big news from Combilift can our readers look forward to seeing in Warehouse & Logistics News in 2018?

By listening to our customers Combilift will continue to bring more new products and innovative solutions to the market which in turn will lead to more Combilift / Aisle-Master fleet customers in the UK and Internationally.

WLN – And finally, if you had to sum up your company in a tweet what would it be?

#Combilift lifting and driving innovation across global markets #forklifts

COMBILIFT LTD

+ 353 47 80500

info@combilift.com

www.combilift.com

 

Comments are closed.