Forklift manufacturer Combilift officially opened its new global headquarters and manufacturing facility in Monaghan, Ireland, in April, at a ceremony presided over by the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. The new facility, which occupies 500,000 square feet and was built at a cost of $58 million (€50 million), will allow the company to double production.
Combilift was founded in 1998 by Martin McVicar, managing director, and Robert Moffett, technical director, when it launched a multidirectional, all-wheel drive, IC engine-powered forklift. The company has greatly expanded its product offerings over the past 20 years and currently has 40,000 forklifts in operation in over 85 countries. It is believed to be the single largest manufacturing operation under one single roof in Ireland.
The company invited international press journalists (including yours truly) to the ribbon-cutting ceremony and to tour the new plant. As McVicar explains, “It is Comblift’s intention to significantly expand its pedestrian forklift range,” driven by safety concerns where employees are in the vicinity of operating forklifts.
To facilitate the increased production, Comblift plans to create 200 new jobs in the next three to five years. The company currently employs 550 people, and plans to hire skilled technicians, design engineers, logistics and supply chain specialists and those with mechanical and electrical mechatronics skills.
