Could you give us a brief introduction to Martin McVicar and the history of Combilift?
Combilift was established in 1998 by me and Technical Director Robert Moffett with the aim of developing safer and more efficient ways to handle long and awkward loads. We developed the world’s first multidirectional, all-wheel-drive, internal combustion engine-powered forklift, the Combilift C4000, and in our first year of operation we produced 18 units, 17 of which were exported.
Since then, the company has grown significantly, and today Combilift machines operate in more than 85 countries worldwide. Recently, we reached another major milestone with the production of our 100,000th forklift. To celebrate this achievement, we launched a special competition to win the exclusive multidirectional Combi-CBE, with all proceeds donated to UNICEF Ireland’s Children’s Emergency Fund. The campaign generated €56,000 in ticket sales, and Combilift increased the total contribution to €100,000.
Our manufacturing plant and headquarters remain in Monaghan, Ireland, where we employ more than 1,000 people. Our product range has expanded far beyond the original C4000 and now includes pedestrian stackers, articulated trucks, side loaders, container loaders, and straddle carriers, with lifting capacities ranging from 1 tonne to more than 150 tonnes.
From the beginning, innovation has been in our DNA. We invest 7% of annual revenue in R&D and continue to focus on helping customers maximise space, improve safety, and enhance operational efficiency within existing facilities.
How has your plant changed to maximise output and sustainability?
Sustainability is central to everything we do at Combilift, from the products we develop to the way we operate our manufacturing facilities. We are focused on making our vehicles more environmentally friendly while helping customers optimise warehouse efficiency and better utilise existing space.
Today, more than 98% of our R&D investment is dedicated to designing and manufacturing energy-efficient and electric-powered equipment. More than 70% of our current production is now electric, including recent innovations such as the Combi-CB70E and Combi-FSE8000. Almost every model in our range is now available with electric power.
Since opening our new manufacturing facility in 2018, sustainability has been a key part of the plant’s design. Approximately 30% of the roof space is covered with skylights, reducing the need for artificial lighting. The plant also incorporates rainwater harvesting systems, with collected water reused for jet washing and restroom facilities.
In addition, solar technology installed onsite generates approximately 185kW of energy, accounting for around 10% of the facility’s daily energy usage. We also use water-based paints across the manufacturing process, significantly reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions while creating a safer working environment for employees.
Beyond electrification, our approach to warehouse optimisation also contributes to sustainability. By narrowing aisles, increasing racking heights, and maximising storage density, businesses can reduce energy consumption while making better use of existing facilities.
Our “one-truck-does-all” approach also helps customers reduce fleet sizes by using versatile forklifts capable of operating efficiently in narrow aisles and confined spaces while handling long or bulky loads. This improves operational efficiency and lowers overall carbon footprints.
Give us a top-line overview of your Pedestrian Range – specifically the safety side of these machines.
Safety is central to every product we develop at Combilift. Our design philosophy focuses on delivering solutions that maximise space utilisation and productivity while actively reducing risk in busy warehouse and manufacturing environments.
We are seeing growing demand for pedestrian-operated trucks, particularly in manufacturing facilities and DIY retail environments where forklifts operate close to employees and customers. In these shared spaces, replacing traditional ride-on forklifts with pedestrian-operated models can significantly improve safety and visibility.
Because pedestrian trucks operate at lower speeds, they naturally improve operator control and awareness while allowing 360-degree visibility of the load and surroundings. Operators also remain physically close to both the load and the truck while always facing the direction of travel, improving responsiveness in confined or high-traffic areas.
A key innovation within Combilift’s pedestrian range is our patented multi-position tiller arm design. The tiller arm can be rotated left or right, allowing the rear wheel to pivot parallel to the chassis at the touch of a button. This enables operators to work safely from the side of the truck rather than directly behind it, greatly reducing the risk of becoming trapped between the machine and the racking.
Alongside enhanced safety, the pedestrian range delivers exceptional manoeuvrability and narrow aisle performance of just 2.1m, making it particularly well suited to industries handling long or bulky products such as timber panels.
Talk us through your warehouse optimisation programme.
At Combilift, we see ourselves as much more than designers and manufacturers of material handling equipment. Space is one of the most valuable assets our customers possess, and helping them optimise that space can make a major difference to operational efficiency, storage capacity, and long-term business costs.
That is why we offer a free, no-obligation warehouse optimisation service delivered by our in-house team of design engineers and layout consultants. The service includes detailed warehouse layout drawings and a full rack or storage bay count tailored to each customer’s products, handling requirements, and workflow.
In many operations, relatively simple layout changes, such as narrowing aisles and increasing racking height, combined with the unique capabilities of Combilift equipment, can increase storage capacity by up to 50% without requiring costly building expansion.
During periods of growth, the principle of “improving, not moving” becomes especially valuable. Rather than relocating or acquiring additional storage space, businesses can unlock new potential by optimising their existing facilities.
Our multidirectional product range, including the Combilift C-Series, CB range, and pedestrian WR, is specifically engineered to operate efficiently in narrow aisles and confined spaces while handling long loads. This allows customers to maximise racking capacity, reduce fleet size, improve safety, and lower their overall carbon footprint.
Combi-Connect – how does this impact clients’ businesses?
Combi-Connect is our cloud-based telematics and fleet management platform designed to give customers greater visibility and control over their operations.
The system provides real-time insights into truck performance, utilisation, operator behaviour, energy consumption, idle times, and maintenance requirements. This enables customers to make more informed operational decisions and improve overall fleet efficiency.
By monitoring equipment usage in real time, businesses can reduce downtime, improve safety, support preventative maintenance, and optimise productivity across their entire fleet. Combi-Connect is available to both new and existing customers and forms an important part of our wider strategy of combining innovative hardware with intelligent software solutions.
Finally, what’s next for Combilift?
Our strategy for continued growth is centred on innovation, sustainability, and helping customers maximise the value of their existing space. We will continue investing heavily in R&D while expanding our electric product offering and further developing intelligent technologies such as Combi-Connect.
At the same time, our warehouse optimisation service will remain a key part of the business, helping companies improve storage capacity, safety, and operational efficiency without the need for costly relocation or expansion.
