Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Combilift, the global front-runner in material handling equipment, has clinched the prestigious Company of the Year award at the 50th Business & Finance Awards, in partnership with KPMG Ireland. This accolade highlights a remarkable milestone for the Monaghan-based firm—marking its ninth major industry award within the past three months—and confirms its standing as a dominant innovator in materials handling. The award was presented to CEO Martin McVicar by Seamus Hand of KPMG at the ceremony held in Dublin, underscoring Combilift’s substantial influence on both the Irish economy and global markets. With revenues surpassing €500 million, the company remains export-centric, with a remarkable 98% of sales directed to international markets.
Combilift is another name for legacy in innovation and sustainability
Since its establishment in 1998, Combilift has built a global reputation as a world-leading manufacturer of multidirectional, articulated, and sideloading forklifts, as well as larger material handling solutions such as straddle carriers. Today, more than 85,000 units are operating across 85 countries, a testament to its global footprint. The company’s continuous emphasis on innovation, sustainability, and R&D has been a critical engine behind this sustained expansion. In today’s economic environment, where industrial construction costs have soared by up to 40% post-COVID, Combilift offers strategic design services, including free warehouse layout blueprints that can optimise storage space by up to 50%. This approach provides immediate ROI to customers facing intense space and cost pressures. No other manufacturer in the world can meet the various needs of every customer, regardless of how big or small their business is, or offer the same degree of customisation and adaptability.
Recognition Among Industry Titans
The company joins an esteemed roster of previous winners, including household names such as Glen Dimplex, Kingspan, Primark, Google, and Intel—a clear indicator of its extraordinary business stature.
CEO Martin McVicar reflected on the recognition:
“This award reflects the bold vision and relentless drive that have been at the heart of Combilift since Robert Moffett and I started in 1998. Every forklift, every innovation, and every milestone… This moment belongs to our employees, our dealers, and our customers.”
A winning streak
Combilift’s success extends well beyond this single honour. Earlier in the year, the company achieved a groundbreaking “triple crown” at the Irish Exporter of the Year Awards 2024, becoming the first Irish company to win Exporter of the Year three times. It earned both Manufacturing Exporter of the Year and the Overall Irish Exporter of the Year, supported by KPMG and the Irish Exporters Association.
September 2024 alone saw Combilift claim numerous accolades, including:
These wins underscore an ongoing commitment to engineering excellence, export leadership, and groundbreaking design.
Significance for the woodworking and logistics
For woodworking, material handling, and warehouse operations professionals across Europe, Combilift’s expansion and recognition signal several key advantages:
Optimised Storage Solutions: The layout planning programs can help woodworking warehouses achieve up to 50% more storage density—a massive productivity gain.
Global Reach & Reliability: With products distributed across 85 countries, industry operators can access robust support and proven reliability.
Cost Efficiency under Pressure: As building and logistics costs continue climbing, Combilift’s space-saving innovations offer tangible cost savings without sacrificing performance.
Innovation-Driven Leadership: The consistent stream of awards reflects the brand’s role at the forefront of design, sustainability, and ergonomic equipment development.
Combilift’s Company of the Year award—its ninth in just a few months—reinforces its position not only as Ireland’s manufacturing champion but also as a genuine global leader in material handling solutions. For woodworking professionals, logistics planners, and warehouse managers, the company’s track record of innovation, export strength, and storage efficiency makes it a partner of strategic value.
Read more news on: sustainability, material handling, logistics, equipment
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Tags: Business & Finance Awards 2024, Combilift award Dublin, Combilift Company of the Year, Combilift export leader, material handling innovation, warehouse efficiency
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