 left to right: Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn TD, Michael Löhrmann, Martin McVicar, Thomas Lyons |
Specialist materials handling manufacturer Combilift has been named the Best Overall Exporter to Germany in the Irish Exporter to Germany Awards, organised by Enterprise Ireland and the German-Irish Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Combilift MD Martin McVicar accepted the trophy from Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn TD in a ceremony held last week in Dublin.The awards marked 50 years of Irish export success to Germany and the 50th anniversary of the opening of Ireland's first trade office in Frankfurt in 1962. The one off award presented to
Combilift is the company's third major accolade this year following its success at the FLTA awards in February for its RT and CB forklift models.
 left to right: Holger Erdmann, German-Irish Chamber of Commerce; Deirdre McPartlin, Enterprise Ireland Manager for Germany, Austria and Switzerland; Martin McVicar, Combilift MD. |
When
Combilift was established in 1998 it was a small operation employing just a handful of staff working on a brand new concept for the materials handling sector - the world's first engine powered, 3 wheel drive multi-directional forklift designed for the space saving and safe handling of long and bulky loads.
With the export market a target from day one it was not long before Combilift's "3 machines in 1" concept was redefining handling procedures around the world. The company has expanded ever since and, just short of its fifteenth anniversary,
Combilift has now sold over 17,000 units, operates a network of dealerships in around 60 countries and is the acknowledged global leader in the long load and narrow aisle handling sectors.
Combilift entered the German market in 1999, just a year after the company was established and since then its ever increasing range of 4-way handling solutions has notched up sales in excess of €100m to German companies, with a growth rate of 22% being recorded in 2012. All the more striking is
Combilift's success in this "away" market against large mainstream concerns such as Linde and Jungheinrich, as well as a German 4-way forklift manufacturer.
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The company's strong foothold in this very competitive arena, where emphasis on excellently engineered and solution based products is of uppermost importance, is chiefly down to its ethos of innovation.
Combilift's policy of taking customer feedback on board to develop handling solutions according to specific requirements has gained it blue chip customers such as Liebherr, Thyssen Krupp, Weber Haus, Veka, Schüco and Hagebau, for example. Repeat orders from these companies underline the eminent suitability of the Combilift range for their operations.
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"Success in Germany - a market which sets the highest possible standards for suppliers - is hard won and requires a truly high-quality offering," said Ruairi Quinn TD.
Combilift is one of the largest employers in the Monaghan area with a workforce of 240 and many of the 60 new employment opportunities which have been created at the HQ and manufacturing facility in the last two years can be attributed to the strength of sales in Germany. What started as a small operation aiming to provide a niche product is now a recognised global brand with a passion
for innovation.
Combilift Ltd., Co. Monaghan, IrelandHQ Tel: 00353 47 80500.
UK: 07870 976 758.
North America: 1877 266 2456.
Germany: 0800 000 5764.
Australia: 1300 552 422
www.combilift.com info@combilift.comClick here to visit Combilift's Shopfront