Combilift opens new $65 million production plant

Martin McVicar, managing director of Monaghan, Ireland-based Combilift, says the company has set the benchmark for mass production of customized, innovative products with its new global headquarters.

Built at a cost of more than $65 million, the new 500,000 square-foot global headquarters and new manufacturing facility will allow Combilift to double production, the material handling equipment company says. 

“Mass customization is the new frontier for both the customer and the manufacturer,” says McVicar. “Increasingly, customers are expecting products to be tailored to meet their needs. Forklift producers that offer customized 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.”

According to the company, the new purpose-built 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 roof in the Republic of Ireland.

Incorporating the latest manufacturing processes with a focus on sustainability, the company says the new factory will enable it to double its output in a single shift across all production lines.

“The flexibility in our new facility means that Combilift can continue to accommodate any customer request for a customized material handling solution,” says McVicar. “Customer requirements are our standard. The new factory enables us to double production and remain focused on the needs of our customers and dealers. We have become much more than a forklift manufacturer and are transforming the transport and logistics sector with our innovative, space-saving products.”

According to Combilift, 30 percent of its roof space is covered in skylights, enabling staff to work in natural daylight without the assistance of artificial lighting. Solar panels supply 185 kilowatt-hours of energy and a 1-megawatt-hour biomass plant fuelled by recycled wood heats the spraying boots and assembly area. More than 110,000 litres of rain water are harvested for use throughout the facility.

The new headquarters and manufacturing facility has been awarded ISO 9001 international quality management system, ISO 14001 environment management and OHSAS (Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series) 18001 accreditations.

Combilift says it is also investing in its workforce, adding a considerable number of high-level employment opportunities, for skilled technicians, design engineers, logistics and supply chain specialists and those with mechanical and electrical mechatronics skills.

“The investment in people will enable Combilift to meet its ambitious growth plans,” says McVicar. “We have employed an additional 230 people since we announced our plans for this factory in 2015. The combination of this state-of-the-art production plant and a skilled workforce will allow us to double production within the next five years.”

Established by McVicar and Robert Moffett, technical director, in 1998, Combilift is a privately held company. In its first year of operation, Combilift says it produced 18 units, 17 of which were exported. The company has more than doubled in the last five years and now has 40,000 units in operation in more than 85 countries.