Combilift Signs $1 Million Contract in Australia
Combilift, the Irish manufacturer of multi-directional forklifts based in Monaghan, has signed a contract with Civmec, an Australian construction and engineering company that is worth an additional $1 million to the Irish company. Civmec is an integrated, multi-disciplined construction and engineering services provider to the oil and gas, metals and minerals, infrastructure and defence markets in Australia.
The contract signing in Sydney was witnessed by An Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald TD at an Enterprise Ireland business lunch in Sydney, attended by 200 business leaders from Ireland and Australia. The event was part of the Enterprise Ireland trade and investment programme to Australia, during a State Visit to Australia led by the President of Ireland Michael D. Higgins.
Combilift will deliver a Straddle Carrier (Combilift SC) with a lift capacity of 90 metric tonne (200,000 lbs) to the Australian company in 2018. The Irish built machine is destined for use by Civmec on a significant project it is undertaking on the east coast of Australia.
Chris Littlewood, Combilift Australia Business Development Manager, says: “Civmec selected Combilift due to its ability to deliver a customised product that can work on challenging ground conditions. Combilift has a long-standing relationship with Civmec, starting off with their first Combilift SC to handle prefabricated steel roof components for the New Perth Stadium and are now providing equipment for the different discipline requirements across their Australian wide operations. Civmec have challenged us on this machine to provide a highly customised, fit for purpose machine designed to their very “precise” requirements. Civmec will have 9 Combilift units in operation across their sites in Australia following the delivery of this most recent order. This is the fourth Straddle Carrier they have purchased from us. It is double the capacity of their previous orders and the largest machine that Combilift have sold into the Australian market to date.”
Australia is a significant market for Combilift with sales of €10 million to date in 2017 making it the 6th largest export market for the Irish company according to Martin McVicar, Managing Director of Combilift. The Monaghan-based manufacturer also supplies a range of products to Bunnings, the largest DIY and home improvement chain in Australia.
“Initially 15 years ago we supplied Aisle Master units and now they purchase 100+ Combilift units on an annual basis including Combi-CB units and Combi-WR units. Safety and space saving are their key requirements. The Combi Safe lift minimises the risk of the operator overloading the forklift. Bunnings want a safe, easy to operate machine that all their staff can utilise whilst also cutting down their aisle widths and Combilift can provide that,” says Martin McVicar.
He adds: “Combilift has a long-term relationship with Bunnings and appreciates the confidence that they have in our products. We continue to work closely with them in product development to meet their needs. They have a significant presence in Ireland and UK with their acquisition of Homebase, a large DIY chain in the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2016 where they also have started to operate a number of Combi-WR products.”
CAPTION:
An Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation; and Julie Sinnamon, Chief Executive, Enterprise Ireland; and Mary Kinnane, Enterprise Ireland Australian Country Manager; witness the signing of the contract between Chris Littlewood, Combilift Australia Business Development Manager; and Pat Tallon, Chief Executive Officer, Civmec.
