For Combilift’s Managing Director Martin McVicar, Australia sets the benchmark for safety. Here he reveals some of the latest initiatives that the leading forklift provider has put in place to keep people safe.
During National Forklift Safety Week in June, Martin McVicar, Managing Director at Combilift took the opportunity to sit down with MHD to discuss how the leading forklift provider is committed to innovation and development around safety initiatives.
For Martin, Australia is one of the safest markets that Combilift operates in. “Of all the markets, safety is very important in Australia. It’s at the top of everyone’s agenda,” he says.
Safety is also at the top of the agenda for Combilift. The business currently invests more than seven per cent of its annual turnover into research and development. “Much of this innovation is to improve safety for all of our customers and forklift operators,” Martin says.
Combilift’s forklifts are manufactured at the company’s headquarters in Ireland, and they are exported to more than 85 countries worldwide. Providing value to its customers by way of innovation and product development, Martin says Combilift is leading the way when it comes to safety.
This can be seen in the Combilift’s range of pedestrian stackers. With lift capacities up to 2,000kg, the Combilift pedestrian stacker is an economic and safe option for lifting and handling in tight spaces.
Combilift introduced its pedestrian forklift equipment more than 10 years ago and its first customer for order for a pedestrian forklift truck in Australia came from iconic Australian retailer Bunnings.
“While we’re not the first to design pedestrian forklifts, with the Combilift pedestrian forklift the operator does not have to stand behind the vehicle. Ensuring they have full visibility, safety and efficiency in mind,” Martin explains.
The Combilift pedestrian stacker series is designed so that the operator is on the side of the vehicle, which allows them to be much more aware of their surroundings.
“We’ve seen a huge drive towards pedestrian forklifts, but our product offers an even safer option by giving the operator enhanced visibility,” Martin says.
Combilift’s first customer for a pedestrian forklift truck in Australia was the iconic Australian retailer Bunnings. “They were delighted that somebody had come up with such a safe and efficient solution,” Martin says.
A further safety benefit of Combilift’s forklifts is the multi-directional range, the hardworking and versatile design offers a complete solution.
“The multi-directional forklifts can be customised according to your application and preferred fuel type. With the ability to work both indoors and out, the need for multiple trucks is eliminated, which optimises fleet size, increases storage space, enhances safety and improves overall efficiency,” Martin explains.
These benefits are well-known to Andrew Walsh, Chief Executive Officer at STEELINE. A trusted group of Australian-owned metal roofing and steel building product specialists, STEELINE manufactures and distributes a range of quality steel structures – from roofing and fencing to skylights, patios and sheds.
All of the company’s roofing and building products are manufactured in Australia from the highest quality materials.
“When you’re moving steel there is a number of safety issues. The product is heavy, and can be razor sharp,” Andrew says.
According to Andrew, Combilifit’s multi-dimensional forklifts have made a huge difference to the business. So much so that STEELINE has now adapted all of its racking and storage to take advantage of the capabilities that the Combilift product offers.
“We’re absolutely delighted with our Combilift products. Once our operators use one of these vehicles, they don’t want to go back to operating any other kind of forklift,” Andrew says.
Working in the steel industry, safety is paramount, and the Combilift products offers the ability to lift heavy materials in a very safe and efficient way.
Andrew says while safety was a major driver in the decision to use Combilift trucks, it was also a very cost-effective solution.
“With the cost of land being so high, it was economics that also attracted us to the Combilift truck. It allows us to better utilise the space we have in a safe manner,” Andrew says.
For more information about Combilift, visit www.combilift.com. To find out more about Steeline, visit www.steeline.com.au.