Drives and Controls 2010 press releases
View All Press Releases| Plant and Works Exhibition | 22 Mar 2010 |
Combilift managing director to present at leading engineering exhibition
Combilift, the highly successful Irish 4-way forklift manufacturer has confirmed its presence at the Plant and Works Exhibition (www.pwe2010.com) as a primary sponsor of the event.
In addition Combilift managing director Martin McVicar will also be speaking at the show’s seminar programme. As one of Ireland’s youngest businessmen ever to win the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award when he was just 29 years old, and heading up a company, which is the global leader in his sector, Martin’s thoughts on how manufacturers can battle an economic downturn will be a rare chance for attendees to gain practical knowledge and advice from one of Europe’s preeminent businessman in the material handling’s industry.
Martin McVicar’s career took off early - a summer job at truck-mounted forklift manufacturer Moffett Engineering led to him becoming the company’s chief engineer before the age of 20. When Moffett was sold in 1997, he decided to set up his own company to develop a niche product in the handling sector. Together with technical director Robert Moffett he developed the Combilift multi-directional forklift, and it is no understatement to say that this product revolutionised handling and storage procedures around the world. As well as coming up with a totally new concept for the safe and space saving handling of long loads, Martin adopted sales and design strategies that would have raised eyebrows within more conventional companies - but Martin is well known for turning conventional thinking on its head and coming up with a winning formula.
Starting with just a handful of staff and sales of 18 units in 1998, Combilift has since sold over 10,000 of its forklifts in around 50 countries, and is the major employer in the Monaghan region. Due to the company’s recognised expertise in manufacturing and the export market, Martin has been co-opted onto various Irish Government business advisory bodies. As a hands-on manufacturer as well as a supplier to a wide variety of business sectors, he is well aware of the challenges involved in keeping businesses buoyant in difficult times, and the need to be able to react swiftly to current market demands. Combilift’s ethos of “customised handling solutions” and its ear for customer feedback when developing new products have enabled it to keep well ahead of competitors who have tried, and so far failed, to make a dent in the company’s sales in locations as far flung as the Arctic Circle and Hawaii.
Martin will be speaking on Wednesday June 9th in the Plant and Works Exhibition seminar theatre – visitors are advised to register their interest early to attend the seminar at: www.pwe2010.com
Information on how the Combilift range of 4-way forklifts can benefit your materials handling requirements and increase your productivity will also be available on stand number P2429.
The Plant and Works Exhibition takes place at the NEC in Birmingham from June 8-10, 2010 alongside the Drives and Controls Exhibition, IFPEX, Air-Tech Exhibition, MACH, and Subcon, the co-located shows will make up the biggest event for the UK manufacturing and engineering sector in 2010. More than 40,000 visitors are expected to attend.
For general visitor information or to register to attend the seminar programme please go to: www.pwe2010.com
