Lifting off in more ways than one - the success of combilift’s long load, narrow aisle forklift

Handling long, panel-shaped or generally bulky loads common in the window and door industries presents something of a problem. An old solution is to use a sideloader and a counterbalance forklift truck, with several drawbacks: A sideloader cannot take product wider than its deck and might only be used for one or two hours a day. Counterbalance trucks are not without their limits either, and may become unstable lifting over six metres, on uneven surfaces, and there can be the issue of downtime for battery charging.

The Combilift multi-directional forklift does the work of both machines, and has become popular with extruders and fabricators since it was developed – the major extruder Eurocell has 17 of them. This three-wheeled, engined powered solution offers assured lifting to over eight metres in narrow aisles, using a guide rail.

Expansion project

Manufacturer Combilift Ltd, based in Clontibret, County Monaghan, Ireland, was formed by Martin McVicar and Robert Moffett, both formerly of truck-mounted specialist Moffett Engineering, in 1998, and they haven’t looked back since. Having developed three families of Combilifts ranging from 2.5 to 10 tonnes in weight, their next project is to develop their second factory in nearby Gallinagh for an annual production capacity of 2,000 vehicles on a single shift basis.

This clever but uncomplicated forklift has become invaluable for handling all sorts of products – extrusions, timber, pipes and doors are just a few of them. In 2001, Combilift won the DHL Exporter of the Year Award, and MD Martin McVicar was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Combilift sales continue to grow, and around 900 units will be produced this year for customers in 40 countries. 25 per cent will go to the UK. The 2.5 tonne model is particularly popular with window fabricators who might purchase or lease Combilifts. Besides loading in narrow-aisled warehouses, the Combilift can stock pallets tightly. You’ve got plenty of space at your premises? Then use it more efficiently and rent some of out, says Martin McVicar. Factory planning is an important service that Combilift offers along with its trucks.

The new factory takes the current Just in Time operations to a bigger scale. The key to the Combilift’s stability at height is its chassis – a sturdy construction of 50mm thick steel sections, giving the forklift a low centre of gravity. All other parts are bought in, and the company has cleverly chosen common and readily available components.

While the talented brains at this company will doubtless come up with other niche materials handling solutions, we’ll be following the Combilift’s progress for years to come. www.combilift.com