TPT July 2018

I NDUS T RY Official opening of Combilift’s new €50mn headquar ters and manufacturing facility

FORKLIFT manufacturer and material handling solutions provider Combilift has officially opened its new global headquarters and manufacturing facility in Monaghan, Ireland. Celebrating its 20 th anniversary this year, the company also announced that it will be significantly expanding its workforce with the creation of 200 new jobs in the next three years. Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Irish Prime Minister, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD, said: “Combilift is an incredible home-grown Monaghan success story. When the company was founded 20 years ago, it had three employees, a brilliant concept, and the ambition to make it a reality. Combilift is playing a significant role in Monaghan’s success, and I would like to congratulate Robert Moffett and Martin McVicar and everyone at Combilift on their achievements to date and wish them every success for the future.” Built at a cost of €50mn, the invest- ment in the new 46,500m 2 facility will allow Combilift to realise its ambitious growth plans. Martin McVicar, managing director, said: “We have employed an additional 230 people since we announced our plans for this factory in 2015 and the combination of this

The official opening of the facility

to enhance its customisation capability and to maximise ROI for its customers. Mr McVicar stated, “The flexibility in our new facility means that we can continue to accommodate any request for a customised material handling solution. We also see ourselves as much more than a forklift manufacturer and are transforming the transport and logistics sector with our innovative, space- spacing products and our services.” Combilift offers a free logistic and warehouse design service, which enables customers to see the benefit that its products will bring to their business. “Our engineers proactively design, plan and produce material flow analysis and 3D animations – 150 to 200 per day for our worldwide customers – which clearly illustrate the capacity potential as well as the optimum flow of materials on their site,” said Mr McVicar. Established in 1998 by Martin McVicar, managing director, and Robert Moffett, technical director, Combilift is a privately held and fully capitalised company. It developed the world’s first multidirectional all-wheel drive IC engine powered forklift in 1998. In the first year of operation it produced 18 units,17 of which were exported. The company

state-of-the-art production plant and the growing skilled workforce will allow us to double production within the next five years.” Combilift currently exports 98 per cent of its products to 85 countries through its 250-strong international dealer network. The current workforce stands at 550 people and the new employment opportunities will be for skilled technicians, design engineers, logistics and supply chain specialists and those with mechanical and electrical mechatronics skills. Mr McVicar attributes the com- pany’s impressive growth and its status as an acknowledged world leader in the material handling sector to mass customisation: “Combilift has set the benchmark for the mass production of customised innovative products. Mass customisation is the new frontier for both the customer and the manufacturer as customers are increasingly expecting products to be tailored to their requirements. We listen to and take feedback on board from our customers and dealers to identify solutions that best match their individual specific needs.” Combilift invests 7per cent of its annual turnover in research and development

6

www.read-tpt.com

JULY 2018