Combilift Australia managing director Chris Littlewood, Combilift CEO Martin McVicar and Adaptalift Founder Peter Whiffen.
Irish materials handling innovator Combilift has celebrated 21 years of operation in Australia, shortly after marking the 25th anniversary of its establishment in County Monaghan. Source: Timberbiz
Co-founder and managing director Martin McVicar last week joined customers, dealer partners and local staff to mark the milestone in Melbourne.
Mr McVicar recalled how he was initially approached about entering the Australian market by family-owned dealer group Adaptalift.
Founder Peter Whiffen discovered Combilift while searching for a solution for a client’s unique handling needs.
As an engineer, he was so impressed with the innovation of the Combilift range that he flew to the company’s factory in Ireland.
The visit resulted in the establishment in 2003 of Adapt-A-Lift Imports, trading as Combilift Australia, to import and distribute niche market materials handling products.
Mr McVicar still vividly remembers his first business trip to Australia from Cincinnati in the United States to Brisbane via Chicago, Los Angeles and Auckland. The ravages of the trip didn’t affect the presentation and Mr McVicar left with an order of a C4000 truck, the world’s first engine-powered multidirectional forklift, from a steel tubing and pipe specialist which continues to grow its Combilift fleet today.
“For us, every customer is valuable, even if they’ve only purchased one machine,” he said.
Mr McVicar paid tribute to his local partners. “The team from Adaptalift have been instrumental to our growth in the area, with ongoing investment in inventory, parts and training.”
For his part, Mr Whiffen values the relationship with Combilift which, he says, “has never lost its focus on the customer, even though it is now a big company”.
Adaptalift has also benefited from Combilift’s unique range.
“That has opened doors for us and allowed us to sell other products to the same customers,” Mr Whiffen said.
“It extends our range and beautifully complements our other offerings.”
According to Combilift Australia managing director Chris Littlewood, whose 10th year with the company is fast approaching, Combilift continues to grow its market share in Australia. This growth has made Australia Combilift’s fifth-largest market, with a fleet in the country exceeding 4,500 units.
