Combilift's aim was to provide customers with a much more flexible alternative to the then almost 'standard' requirement of a combination of forklifts to manage the differing needs of loading / offloading outside and manoeuvring product around the warehouse. This now seems a very elemental concept, but at the time of Combilift's introduction onto the market, it was considered to be a radical change in the world of materials handling.
Initial customers reacted enthusiastically to the first C4000 4t capacity truck, realising that using a Combilift rather than a combination of 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.
Combilift aimed to export its product from the outset, rather than concentrating solely on the domestic market, and of the 18 Combilifts sold in the first year of the company's existence, all except one were exported. The first three trucks went to Norway, followed by exports to the UK, Benelux and France. The first Combilift sold in Ireland is still going strong at a building materials supplier in Monaghan – proof that the forklifts are not only innovative but also robust, long life machines.
By 2001, Combilift's output had increased to over 300 trucks, and markets expanded from initial applications in the timber, PVC and builders' merchant sectors to include industrial manufacturers handling, for example, steel and aluminium. This year was also a milestone for recognition of both the company’s and Martin McVicar's achievements. Combilift won the DHL Exporter of the Year title, and Martin was named Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, beating off stiff competition from a range of considerably older nominees! According to Enda Kelly, Partner in charge of Entrepreneurial Services in Ernst & Young, Martin was selected as the overall winner "for the sheer tenacity which he showed in bringing a hugely innovative product to an international marketplace – where he managed to take on some of the largest engineering companies in the world – and beat them at their own game."
Not a company to rest on its laurels following these accolades, Combilift continued to expand its global distributor network and sales in over 40 countries were recorded. In keeping with the company slogan – customised handling solutions - substantial investment in R&D (around 9% of turnover) resulted in the regular introduction of new models with capacities ranging from 2.5 to 10 tonnes. A very successful 4-way sideloader was launched in 2004, and that year also saw the original range of diesel and LP Gas powered Combilifts supplemented by the introduction of electric trucks.
Given this growth, floor space at the original Clontibret premises had to be enlarged to keep up with production schedules, but even the increased area of 60,000ft2 was quickly at capacity. This led to the decision to purchase what had been an old factory on a large hilltop site overlooking Monaghan Town in 2003. After extensive building work, the first Combilifts to roll off the manufacturing lines here were the larger 10t and newly developed 12t models. Combilift also invested in a wholly owned subsidiary, Combilift USA, based in Greensboro, North Carolina. With 14 personnel, this facility provides support for the whole of North America and Mexico. Combilift was the recipient of yet another award in 2005, The Design Achievement Award from the UK Fork Lift Truck Association.
The acquisition of what has now been transformed into a state of the art 100,000ft2 manufacturing facility incorporating an administrative centre and a separate R&D block, will enable Combilift to produce about 2,000 units trucks per annum in a standard on working week. "We now have a facility capable of producing 1 unit per hour to cope with expected increase in demand," says Martin McVicar.
And what of the future? According to Martin, the company will continue to develop a new model each year as it has done for some time, and aims to have a minimum of 1 Combilift unit in every country around the world by 2010.