Monaghan forklift company expands its market in Singapore

Minister on board - Frances Fitzgerald T.D., Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation with Philip Condell, Combilift and Sim Yong Teng, Executive Chairman, Sinwa Global

Ellie Donnelly

Combilift, an Irish manufacturer of multi-directional forklifts, has signed a contract with Paves Asia Pacific to launch its ‘straddle carrier’ product in Asia.

Launched in 2010, the Combilift straddle carrier range was developed by the Monaghan-based company as a more cost effective and flexible solution for distribution, shipping and haulage companies.

The contracts, worth in the region of €500,000, were signed on day one of the Enterprise Ireland/IDA Ireland trade and investment mission to Singapore and Japan.

Commenting on the contract signing Martin McVicar, Managing Director, Combilift said it was a "significant development" for the company that would allow it to develop the market for its products in Singapore.

"We are very pleased to further cement our relationship with Paves. Comblift has worked with this prestigious company since 2013 but this is the first order for straddle carrier," Mr McVicar said.

The company, which reported turnover of €200m last year, exports 98pc of its products.

In 1998 the company invented the world’s first internal combustion engine-powered, all-wheel drive multi-directional forklift.

Combilift is set to double its output in the next few years as its new €46m purpose-built factory nears completion.

The factory, which will be the largest single manufacturing unit under one roof in Ireland, will be fully operational in the spring of 2018 and will result in the creation of around 200 new jobs, mainly for skilled technicians and design engineers.