Over the past few weeks Combilift has been receiving award after award, the display shelves in the company’s building must be groaning under the strain but it proves that this is an outstanding company. September 2024 has been an extraordinary month for Combilift, with a winning streak of seven awards. Source: Timberbiz
Combilift, the Irish manufacturing giant, celebrated a landmark achievement at the prestigious Irish Exporter of the Year Awards 2024, becoming the first Irish firm in history to win the coveted Exporter of the Year title three times.
The IEA (Irish Exporters Association) event hosted at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre, saw Combilift not only secure the title of Manufacturing Exporter of the Year, sponsored by Ace Express Freight, but also claimed the ultimate honour of being named Overall Irish Exporter of the Year 2024, sponsored by KPMG.
In 1998, Robert Moffett and Martin McVicar co-founded the business with a unique forklift concept designing a truck that could move forwards and backwards like any regular forklift but, at the flick of a switch, could also travel sideways. Combilift’s first model, the multidirectional 4-tonne C-Series, is still in production 26 years later.
“Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to receive various awards, but being named Irish Exporter of the Year is a significant achievement. Competing with industries across the island, including large global manufacturers in sectors like pharmaceuticals and medical devices, was no easy task,” CEO Martin McVicar said.
“This award wasn’t just about submitting an application; it also involved two rigorous interviews in front of a panel of 14-15 independent judges from diverse industries.
“Winning this award shows that we’ve been recognised as a fully-fledged manufacturing company that truly exports globally.
“We don’t simply rebadge products, we design, fabricate, paint, and assemble our vehicles from start to finish before exporting them worldwide.”
Combilift’s victory at this year’s Irish Exporter of the Year Awards is the latest in a long line of accolades. The company previously won the Irish Exporter of the Year award in 2008 and again in 2015, making this their third time receiving the prestigious title. These successes reflect Combilift’s ongoing commitment to innovation, growth, and quality in a highly competitive global market.
These awards acknowledge Combilift’s significant contribution to the international marketplace, its innovative approach to engineering, and its relentless focus on fostering a culture of creativity and forward-thinking within the industry.
Like any moving vehicle, forklifts need servicing to keep running efficiently. For Combilift, the route to market is through a global dealer network with skilled service engineers.
“We provide comprehensive in-house training and also offer service training in local markets. Having professional local service on the customer’s doorstep is crucial, along with rapid access to parts, and today Combilift has more than 300 dealer distributors around the world,” Mr McVicar said.
Combilift’s 2024 awards:
- UK EMA – Design Team of the Year, for the Combi-BLADE
- UK EMA – Industry Leader Award, recognising Martin McVicar’s exceptional leadership
- UKMHA Archies – Ergonomics of the Year Award, for the Combi-CB70E
- UKMHA Archies – Product of the Year Award, for the Combi-BLADE
- Deloitte Best Managed Company – Platinum Award, for the 12th consecutive year
- Irish Exporter of the Year – Manufacturing Exporter of the Year
- Irish Exporter of the Year – Overall Winner – Irish Exporter of the Year 2024
