Space exploitation
October 1st 2008
Combilift has launched a smaller version of its four-way truck that it believes will
eventually become its best seller. The Combi-CB (which stands for counterbalance) is
aimed at firms that occasionally need to handle long or awkward loads in confined
spaces, and need a manoeuvrable, versatile counterbalance truck to handle pallet loads
the rest of the time. Brendan Coyne reports
The 2.5t capacity unit's dimensions
are such that it can drive into a
standard container, unload goods
into the yard or warehouse, and operate in
narrow aisles. Unlike the standard
Combilift, the CB has no platform, meaning
goods can be stacked from the floor up,
maximising use of lower storage areas. It
has a maximum lift height of 7.5m and is
available in LPG, diesel or electric.
Combilift MD, Martin McVicar (pictured
with Robert Moffett, left), said the firm has
trialled just over 100 Combi-CB's over the
last 18 months with main customers, in
sectors including timber, automotive and
steel. At present, the company is
assembling five units a week in its
Monaghan facility, with the capacity to
make 25 units per week on a single shift.
This year, McVicar aims to sell between 300
and 400 Combi-CB's, with a total target of
2,100 trucks for the year. The CB should
add €10m to Combilift's turnover, giving a
rough indication of its list price given the
projected unit sales.
"Over time we see the CB as being the
bigger product," said McVicar. "Probably not
within the next three years but in the
medium term."
The launch also marked Combilift's 10th
anniversary. Founded by McVicar and
Robert Moffett (inventor of the truckmounted
Moffett Mounty) in 1998, the
firm has grown rapidly through its space
saving, long-load handling invention and is
set to make its target of €100m turnover a
year ahead of schedule, in 2009.
McVicar says sales could also be boosted
by the now available ContainerLift solution
– a flatbed truck with crane that allows a
single operator to load and unload
containers in a couple of minutes (pictured
below). According to McVicar this means
distributors and freight forwarders can
save time and money by dropping off the
container without having to wait for it to
be unloaded. He agrees the product
dovetails with the new Combi-CB, which
can take product directly from the
container, through the yard and into
narrow aisle racking in the warehouse,
using all available space.
The firm also offers a warehouse
planning service, whereby its engineers
will take customers warehouse or yard
dimensions and design the optimimum
space saving layout free of charge.
"Delivering space saving solutions has
been key to our success," said McVicar.
"We now have over 9,000 machines in
over 50 countries, testament to the fact
our range brings increased
manoeuvrability and better, more
profitable use of space to almost any
business that deals with long or awkward
loads. The new CB continues that
tradition: there are many firms that use a
counterbalance truck that occasionally
need to handle long loads in tight spaces –
from manufacturing through builders
merchants to retail. Now they have a
solution that saves time, space and
money." More articles from Combilift Limited: | 
