New factory for Irish Forklift maker
After investing 50 million euros — that $58.5 million in U.S. dollars — on a new global headquarters and manufacturing facility in Monaghan, Ireland, forklift and lifting machine manufacturer Combilift says it is poised to take advantage of mass custimization as it rolls out innovative lifting solutions.
The 500,000 sq. ft. global headquarters and new manufacturing facility will allow Combilift to double production within the next five years, the company says.
“Mass customization is the new frontier for both the customer and the manufacturer,” said Martin McVicar, Managing Director of Combilift, speaking at the opening of the facility. “Increasingly customers are expecting products to be tailored to meet their needs. Forklift producers that offer customied products generally produce low volume, but Combilift is setting the benchmark by offering the mass production of tailored products, resulting in a strategic advantage for our customers. Traditional forklift manufacturers focus on high volume mass production of the same products. We evolve with our clients, producing new products each year.”
An example of a new product is the Combi-OP, the first purpose-built order picker on the worldwide market for long products, the company claims.
Previously customers have had to modify traditional order pickers to cope with the specific demands of long loads. The Combi-OP now guarantees much more efficient and non-compromised operation for easy picking of long profiles in, for example, steel service centers.
The Combi-OP
This man-up truck features a long platform to enable the operator to access long products stored at height. It is fitted with guide rollers to enable it to operate in existing guided narrow aisles of just 1.4m — the same width as those needed for Combilift’s GT truck. It enables operators to easily and safely hand pick orders for customers from the roomy elevated platform and it has a capacity of 450 kg. Its overhead guard, light anti-slip floor, self-closing platform gate and guard rails guarantee utmost safety, as does the travel speed and steering angle that automatically adjusts according to lift heights.
The new factory is set on a 100-acre site with room for expansion. With 11 acres of roof space, it is one of the largest manufacturing operations under one single roof in the Republic of Ireland. Incorporating the latest manufacturing processes with a focus on sustainability, the new factory will enable Combilift to double its output in a single shift across all production lines. Four 90-meter moving assembly lines produce a finished truck every 15 minutes.
Combilift says it developed the world’s first multidirectional all-wheel drive IC engine powered forklift in 1998. In its first year of operation, Combilift produced 18 units, 17 of which were exported. The company has more than doubled in the last 5 years and now has 40,000 units in operation in over 85 countries.
The 500,000 sq. ft. global headquarters and new manufacturing facility will allow Combilift to double production within the next five years, the company says.
“Mass customization is the new frontier for both the customer and the manufacturer,” said Martin McVicar, Managing Director of Combilift, speaking at the opening of the facility. “Increasingly customers are expecting products to be tailored to meet their needs. Forklift producers that offer customied products generally produce low volume, but Combilift is setting the benchmark by offering the mass production of tailored products, resulting in a strategic advantage for our customers. Traditional forklift manufacturers focus on high volume mass production of the same products. We evolve with our clients, producing new products each year.”
An example of a new product is the Combi-OP, the first purpose-built order picker on the worldwide market for long products, the company claims.
Previously customers have had to modify traditional order pickers to cope with the specific demands of long loads. The Combi-OP now guarantees much more efficient and non-compromised operation for easy picking of long profiles in, for example, steel service centers.
The Combi-OPThis man-up truck features a long platform to enable the operator to access long products stored at height. It is fitted with guide rollers to enable it to operate in existing guided narrow aisles of just 1.4m — the same width as those needed for Combilift’s GT truck. It enables operators to easily and safely hand pick orders for customers from the roomy elevated platform and it has a capacity of 450 kg. Its overhead guard, light anti-slip floor, self-closing platform gate and guard rails guarantee utmost safety, as does the travel speed and steering angle that automatically adjusts according to lift heights.
The new factory is set on a 100-acre site with room for expansion. With 11 acres of roof space, it is one of the largest manufacturing operations under one single roof in the Republic of Ireland. Incorporating the latest manufacturing processes with a focus on sustainability, the new factory will enable Combilift to double its output in a single shift across all production lines. Four 90-meter moving assembly lines produce a finished truck every 15 minutes.
Combilift says it developed the world’s first multidirectional all-wheel drive IC engine powered forklift in 1998. In its first year of operation, Combilift produced 18 units, 17 of which were exported. The company has more than doubled in the last 5 years and now has 40,000 units in operation in over 85 countries.