A Combilift multidrectional forklift working at timber company Gunnersen Pty Ltd in Smithfield, Sydney.

Combilift, of Monaghan, Ireland, and forklift distributor MHF Imports, of Sydney, Australia, have jointly announced the establishment of Combilift Australia.

At a media briefing at Adapt-A-Lift, in Sydney, representatives of Combilift, Ireland, answered questions on the Combilift and Aisle-Master forklifts that will be imported by Combilift Australia.

Combilift Australia is a division of importer MHF Imports, which was established as Adapt-A-Lift Imports by Adapt-A-Lift Forklift Rentals and Sales (AAL) in 2002.

Privately-owned AAL, which has branches all over Australia, has more than 5,000 forkllifts in its rental fleet.

After MHF Imports principals visited Combilift's Irish manufacturing plant, an alliance between the two companies grew, resulting in 195 multidirectional Combilift forklifts and 86 Aisle Masters being sold in Australia.

In total, 6,000 Combilifts and 1,000 Aisle Masters have been sold worldwide.

The success of Combilifts and Aisle-Masters in Australia has encouraged MHF Imports to market the forklifts under a new division using the Combilift name.

Combilift Australia, based in Melbourne, will be run by national sales manager Jarrod Emmins and business and administration manager Alicia Whiffen. Emmins, Whiffen and three other employees will work closely with Combilift and Aisle-Master major distributor Adapt-A-Lift Rentals and Sales. Adapt-A-Lift has more than 120 staff nationally.

Whiffen said Combilift Australia would import, distribute and market the forklifts and provide technical and marketing support to dealers.

Combilift Ireland was founded by Martin McVicar and Robert Moffett in Clontribet, Ireland, in 1998. Combilift currently exports to more than 45 countries. Its 2006 turnover was EUR60 million (USD80 million) and the company forecasts turnover to grow to EUR100 million (USD133.3 million) by 2010. Its 150 employees are expected to increase to 250 by 2010.

Emmins said the Irish manufacturer would produce 1,801 Combilifts this year. About 250 Aisle Masters would be produced.

Combilift Ireland director of sales Aidan Mckenna and Aisle-Master Ltd managing director Gerry McHugh were at the media briefing.

The Irish manufacturer has grown rapidly in the past five years. In 2006, it entered dhf magazine's world ranking list of forklift manufacturers for the first time (Forkliftaction.com News #248).

In June 2006, Combilift opened a new headquarters and factory in Monaghan (Forkliftaction.com News #266).