Special measures
April 1st 2008

Almost ten years on from its first model, the multi-directional Combilift can now be seen in applications worldwide. Over that time, the truck has developed and the range expanded as the company produces more variants in response to customer needs

If you happen to visit a timber yard, a builder's merchant, steel stockholders or a window manufacturer, the chances are that you will spot the distinctive shape of a - usually green - Combilift multidirectional forklift somewhere on the premises. Ten years ago it was a different story however, as Combilift MD Martin McVicar and technical director Robert Moffett were in the initial stages of getting a foothold in the materials handling sector with their newly developed and highly innovative forklift. "Some people were very sceptical of this concept at first," says McVicar, "but once the industry recognised the unique benefits, sales soared. There are now 8000 Combilifts in operation around the world, and production is set to top 2000 in 2008, so I can safely say that we have proved the sceptics wrong."

Gap in the market The Combilift was designed as a specialist solution to fill a gap that the designers had identified in the market – one 4-way forklift to replace a combination of other types of trucks for the safe and space saving handling and storage of long and awkward loads. Customers who adopted the Combilift system soon realised that they were benefiting from a host of additional advantages. Service Metals for example, can now unload a typical delivery in just two hours rather than a whole afternoon, enabling the company to drastically improve productivity and save on overtime payments. Caravan manufacturer Atlas and steel stockist AJN Steel are just two of many companies that have considerably improved health and safety procedures by using Combilifts for the safe, low level transportation of loads around a complex site, avoiding any need for risky high-level manoeuvres associated with operating counterbalance forklifts.

A major factor in Combilift's success has been the company's policy of listening to customer feedback. Roy Redman, Combilift's UK product director: "Combilift is a rare example of a company in this sector which is customer led. Unlike mainstream manufacturers, Combilift has looked to end users to tell us what they want. Similarly, customers actively seek out Combilift to provide a customised solution to what can often be complex handling problems." The C4000 4t capacity Combilift was the original model and still remains the "core" truck of the range, but other capacities soon followed. A compact 2.5t Combilift was developed for the glass and glazing sectors where loads of U-pvc are long but typically quite light. At the other end of the scale, the steel industry prompted the design of the heavyweight range of 8, 10 and 12t Combilifts. Users of conventional sideloaders were soon asking for a 4-way version, so the Combilift SL was launched.

This can work in existing sideloader aisles but offers far superior manoeuvrability as well as the ability to block stack for much better use of storage space. All Combilifts are in fact customised machines, as features such as mast height, platform size, power source (LPG, diesel or electric) and attachments are all specified before each truck is built to order in the Monaghan factory.

The 4-way capability of the range has also influenced change in handling practices, enabling companies to grow their business considerably. Many industry sectors report the increasing size of raw materials, so the ability to offload extreme lengths can give a company a competitive edge. Industrial door manufacturer Indupart for example can now buy in the longest 13.2m lengths of raw materials available, for considerable cost savings. In the steel and offshore sectors, Combilifts are increasingly replacing overhead cranes for more versatile and space saving operations.

Ability to react Combilift's ability to react to market changes thanks to considerable investment in R&D has enabled it to work alongside pioneers in emerging sectors such as the offsite construction industry. Panaloc, a Manchester based company which designs and manufactures pre-assembled structures needed very specialised equipment to handle the increasingly large dimensions of incoming raw materials and finished panels. Collaboration between Combilift engineers and Panaloc MD Eric Deane resulted in a 14t Combilift with a raft of features designed to accommodate the extraordinary sized loads. It is no exaggeration to say that without this forklift, Panaloc would not have experienced the rapid growth it has achieved.

Combilift also offers a free warehouse layout and design service. There is a lot to be said for "leaving it to the experts" when it comes to decisions such as which type of racking is best for the application, ideal aisle-widths and whether to install a guided aisle system. Combilift employs a dedicated team of design engineers who draw up plans to enable customers to make the most of space available. As MD Martin McVicar points out, Combilift does not just sell forklifts; it offers a range of warehouse solutions.

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