Combilift launches two exciting new products
With over 11,000 Combilifts in operation worldwide, what started as a small company is now a recognised global brand. FTD’s editor travelled to Combilift’s manufacturing facility and HQ in Ireland to join a group of journalists from 30 countries worldwide for the launch of two new machines.
Located in the township of Monaghan in the northeastern county of the same name, the Combilift company was formed in 1998 by Martin McVicar and Robert Moffett. With a combined engineering experience of over 40 years, they used their knowledge and practical experience to create the ultimate long-load materials handling solution – the four-waymanoeuvrable Combilift.
Combilift has since grown to be the global leader in the long-load handling market, and now ranks in the top 20 industrial lift truck suppliers worldwide. Combilift products can be found in over 50 countries around the world, and the company celebrated the delivery of its 10,000th truck in the summer of 2009.
Priding themselves on being at the forefront of innovation, and always with an ear to clients’ needs, the company has developed and produced at least one new model a year since the first C4000 Combilift launches two exciting new products By Lynne Richardson four-way-manoeuvrable forklift rolled off the production line. This first-ever model is still in full operational use – at a local business, not surprisingly.
At the press conference in April at Combilift HQ, Mr McVicar told assembled delegates that Combilift is back on track after a 28 percent drop in production in 2009 as a direct result of the global recession, and that the team are optimistic that they will achieve or surpass 2008 figures this year. Contributing to this growth will be the incorporation of the Aisle-Master range of electric and LPG-powered articulated forklifts, which will now be manufactured alongside the Combilift range at the Monaghan facility.
“Our engineering expertise and ability to invest substantial resources into R&D will ensure that Aisle-Master continues to enjoy its reputation as the quality articulated forklift in the marketplace, not only in the UK, Australia, USA, Middle East and Ireland, but throughout the world,” Mr McVicar told delegates.
Combilift C25,000 – supersized manoeuvrability
Since the ‘baby’ of the Combilift fleet – the Combi-CB – was successfully launched two years ago, the team have turned their attention to bigger things, and the April event was held to introduce and showcase two brand new models – the C25,000 and the Combilift Straddle Carrier.
The 25 tonne capacity C25,000 model is a machine packed full of superlatives. With dimensions of around 5 x 5 m, an unladen weight of 32 tonnes and a 127 kW John Deere engine, it is the largest-ever Combilift built to date.
“Developments in sectors such as manufacturing and the timber and construction industries have prompted companies to look for safer and more efficient methods of handling increasingly larger loads,” Mr McVicar said, “and Combilift has responded to feedback from customers by steadily increasing the size and lift capacity of its range.”
The C25,000 may resemble a standard Combilift – just on a much larger scale – but the implications of designing and building a truck almost twice as large as any existing model called for some innovative engineering and manufacturing solutions. For example, the Kubota engines used as standard in the smaller diesel-powered Combilift range did not offer the required horsepower for a model of this size, and after a thorough analysis of the market, Combilift opted for a John Deere engine, one that could provide the necessary power, but would also be quiet and environmentally friendly.
A critical issue was also the platform height. “The size of three single wheels required for a machine of this weight would have resulted in an unworkable platform height, but by using double wheels, the platform has been kept to 1150 mm,” Mr McVicar explained. “Hydraulic fork positioners have also been incorporated as a standard feature, much to the relief of drivers for whom it would be nigh on impossible to shift the extremely heavy forks manually.
“We were definitely faced with some issues when we embarked on this project,” he added, “but our engineers once again rose to the challenge to create a Combilift which will do the job perfectly for the customer and which is remarkably manoeuvrable, considering its size.”
Combilift Straddle Carrier – forklift innovation for containers
Combilift has had a reputation for coming up with innovative handling solutions since the company’s inception, and the development of the Combilift Straddle Carrier is no exception. “We saw a gap in the container handling market for a cost-effective, very light, but nevertheless extremely stable alternative to conventional container handling forklifts, reach stackers or mobile cranes,” Mr McVicar told delegates.
“This machine has been in development over the last 18 months or so, and will offer customers complete independence when it comes to moving products around a site. Savings made by not having to hire other equipment will make for a very quick return on the initial capital investment.”
The standard Combilift Straddle Carrier is a three-wheel patented design model (a four-wheel option is also available). “This design ensures maximum stability, with all three wheels permanently in contact with the ground, even on rougher surfaces, without the need to add suspension, making it more economical to manufacture and enabling these cost savings to be passed on to the end user,” Mr McVicar said.
“Although the appearance of the Straddle Carrier is quite different to the standard four-way Combilift models, many of the features – such as the hydrostatic drive and the hydraulic steering – have been designed around common components. This thoughtthrough approach will enable the existing Combilift dealer network around the world to support the product when it comes to aftersales care and maintenance.”
In addition, the design of the three-wheel model enables it to be disassembled and shipped in just one 40 foot container, reducing freight costs for customers anywhere in the world.
Lynne Richardson travelled to Ireland courtesy of Combilift; for further information, visit www.combilift.com