The Moffett Mounty M4 45.3P forklift

Sixty-five years ago, Cecil Moffett founded a small, family-run, engineering business in Monaghan, Ireland. Today, Hiab Moffett is a part of Finland-headquartered Cargotec Corp and claims to be the market leader in truck-mounted forklifts.

Moffett started out by manufacturing farm implements for his own farm. Word of his expertise spread and the Moffett business was born. During the 1950s and 60s, Moffett developed products for the local agricultural market. In the early 70s, the company entered the global market with products for the building industry.

In 1986, Moffett invented a three-wheeled drive machine that can be carried on almost any truck or trailer without loss of load space- the truck-mounted forklift. It made deliveries faster and more cost-effective.

A decade on, Moffett relocated from the Monaghan factory to a new plant on Ardee Road in Dundalk to accommodate its product expansion. In 2004, a EUR8 million (USD10.2 million) investment enhanced the manufacturing facilities to include a research and development centre (R&D) and new paint facility. The site is now the prime manufacturing plant and R&D hub for all Hiab Moffett truck-mounted forklifts.

Moffett Engineering Ltd became a part of Cargotec Corp in 2000 along with Dutch truck-mounted forklift manufacturer Kooi. Moffett and Kooi then merged into one product line.

The Hiab Moffett model range includes 1.5 to 3.5 tonne forklifts for applications ranging from building, agriculture and animal feed to a wide range of other commercial and industry uses. The newest additions, the Hiab Moffett M2 and Hiab Moffett M10, were launched this year.

For more on truck-mounted forklifts, go to our Truck-Mounted Forklifts feature in the Forkliftaction.com News archive.