Combilift is the largest manufacturer of multidirectional, sideloading and articulated forklifts, along with pedestrian stackers and straddle carriers. Offering customer-led solutions and innovative designs, the company is a global leader of the sector. Combilift Marketing Team and CEO Martin McVicar discussed innovative engineering and sustainability. Report by Antonia Cole.
Established in 1998, Combilift reached the milestone of 25 years in business last year. To celebrate this, the company launched five new products. The Combi-Cube, CombiCB70E and Combi-AGT are all fully electric, offering a more sustainable option to customers. Then, the Combi-LC Blade enables the transportation of turbine blades and towers, and the CombiConnect is a new telematics software product that provides insights into fleet management.
“Enjoying unparalleled expansion in its sector, the company is now acknowledged as one of the world's fastest-growing forklift manufacturers,” said CEO Martin McVicar. “We have maintained our position at the forefront of product
innovation through a continuous 7 per cent annual reinvestment into R&D.”
The company’s success began at its headquarters in Monaghan, Ireland, with the development of the C4000 model forklift, designed by founders Robert Moffet and Martin McVicar. This was the world’s first engine-powered, threewheel drive multidirectional forklift. Revolutionising the way customers could manage load handling, the product became internationally recognised.
In 1998, Combilift produced just 18 units. However, now the company has sold over 85,000 units in more than 85 countries. In response to this success, Combilift expanded its facilities in 2018. The site now spans 46,500m2 and employs 800 people on-site, with another 100 overseas.
“A major factor in our success is that we are customer-driven,” added Mr McVicar. “We identify the needs of our growing customer base, taking feedback on board and developing new products accordingly. Often, our products fill an untapped niche in the market.”
Space-saving plans
Combilift offers a broad portfolio of products, from multidirectional forklifts, pedestrian stackers and sideloaders to very narrow aisle articulated trucks, container loaders and straddle carriers. All of the company’s innovations are specially designed to handle long and challenging loads through the navigation of tight spaces, improving efficiency, safety and space optimisation.
The steel, concrete, timber, renewable energy, agriculture and retail industries, plus more, can benefit from Combilift’s products. Two of the company’s most popular forklifts are the C-Series and the Aisle Master.
Designed to eliminate the double handling of material and improve productivity, the C-Series has a significant impact on the customer’s workflow. By combining the features of a sideloader, counterbalance and narrow aisle forklift, the C-Series becomes a three-in-one solution. With the ability to quickly change direction, the forklift’s versatility allows it to deliver loads safely and efficiently through tight spaces.
“Combilift does not just manufacture forklifts, but we help customers to maximise their space,” explained Mr McVicar. “We recognise that space is one of our clients’ most valuable commodities. Our in-house team of engineers create 3D warehouse layouts to enable clients to visualise how much can be stored in a given area. This value-added service highlights our commitment to high-quality customer service.”
The Aisle Master is an articulated, very narrow aisle forklift that enables maximum storage capacity and reduced costs. Operating in aisles as narrow as 1.6m, the Aisle Master allows clients to reduce aisle width and work more efficiently. With improved visibility and both indoor and outdoor operation, the product provides safer and quicker truck-torack operations.
“Whilst the C-series model remains the company’s flagship product, Combilift also offers Straddle Carriers and Mobile Gantries for handling containers or
oversized loads, as well as pedestrianoperated stacker trucks,” continued Mr McVicar. “The model range on offer exceeds 20 distinct models with capacities ranging from less than 1 tonne to over 150 tonnes.”
Efficient equipment
As well as improving the efficiencies of customers, Combilift is also striving to become more sustainable in its own operations. The company is committed to reducing carbon emissions, optimising resources and minimising waste.
“Sustainability is both part of our value proposition for customers and an integral
aspect of our own journey,” said CEO Martin McVicar. “We are making the environment a priority, this encompasses everything from biomass fuel being used in our paint lines, to our lighting and use of renewable energy.”
473 tonnes of carbon emissions are removed from Combilift’s production through the use of biomass fuel.
Additionally, 30% of the factory’s roof space is covered in skylights, reducing energy consumption, and 10% of daily energy requirements are generated through solar panels installed at the facility.
Combilift also engages in rainwater harvesting as a clean source of water that also minimises waste. To significantly limit the amount of Volatile Organic Compounds in processes, the company has switched to using water-based paints on all machines manufactured.
“Sustainability is a top priority for Combilift,” added Mr McVicar. “We’re highly focused on making our vehicles more environmentally friendly and helping our customers maximise their warehouse efficiency.
Environmental protection is at our core and is also on every other company’s agenda, making it a decisive factor when obtaining a new forklift.”
Approximately 98% of Combilift’s R&D investment has been focused on the development of electric vehicle technology. This includes measuring and recording the efficiency of electric vehicles, as well as
incorporating the newly developed optional Combi-Connect telematics system to analyse truck usage and efficiency in any application.
“Currently, 92% of the components used in our machines are recyclable,” explained Mr McVicar. “We are committed to helping our customers operate more sustainably. By modelling our customers’ warehouse layout, we have shown to increase storage capacity by up to 50 per cent, bringing tremendous value to our customers and limiting environmental impacts.”
Customer-driven design
By optimising existing storage and eliminating the need for expansion, Combilift helps clients to reduce their carbon footprint. The company’s
multi-purpose forklifts enable customers to limit fleet size, as one machine can fulfil a variety of purposes. The forklifts are durable, reliable and efficient, meaning the lifespan of the product is increased, conserving raw materials.
“We are successfully helping our customers limit and even reduce their carbon footprint through our free-of-charge warehouse layout service which can show customers how to increase their existing storage space up to 50% with the unnecessary greenfield expansion”
“Our strategy remains focused on sourcing locally from Irish suppliers. We have worked with many of these suppliers
since the establishment of the company, so we trust them and their products.
“This approach not only supports the local economy, but also reduces transport emissions and enables us to provide traceability to our Scope 3 emissions.”
In the next few years, Combilift will also be reusing its old factory as a rebuild centre. This will keep products and materials in circulation at their highest value and contribute to a more circular economy.
“We provide customer-led, sustainable solutions, with made-to-order equipment designed to meet the unique needs of each client,” said Mr McVicar, in conclusion.
“For example, the Combi-LC Blade was developed using the expertise of our Heavy Equipment Design team in collaboration with Siemens Gamesa.
“The result of this is a solution for lifting and transporting wind blades, a very challenging, non-uniform load which can be 115m long and weigh around 70t. This shows how Combilift can find a solution for any client need, no matter how challenging.”
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