Combilift wins two major accolades at UKMHA Archie Awards

Combilift has gained further global recognition having recently secured awards in two categories at the recent UK Materials Handling Association Awards, held in Birmingham on Saturday 14 September. Up against some of the biggest names in material handling, the company scooped the coveted ‘Ergonomic Innovation of the Year’ in addition to ‘Manufacturer Product Innovation of the Year’ awards.

The Combilift team celebrates their double win

‘Ergonomics Innovation of the Year’ was awarded to the Combi-CB70E multidirectional counterbalance forklift

Combi-CB70E – ‘Ergonomic Innovation of the Year’

The Combi-CB70E was celebrated for its groundbreaking ergonomic design. The 7-ton electric-powered, multidirectional counterbalance forklift is the shortest 7-ton capacity truck on the market, making it highly efficient with long loads in tight spaces. The truck’s surprisingly spacious cab, with floor-to-ceiling panoramic glass, provides operators with excellent visibility and enhanced safety.

One of its standout features is the Auto Swivel Seat, which automatically swivels 15° to the left or right, depending on direction of travel. This feature significantly reduces driver strain, particularly when reversing.

The CB70E also incorporates a gas strut suspension system, typically found in larger industrial machinery. This advanced suspension and large super-elastic tyres ensure a smooth ride, even across rough or uneven terrain or during extended shifts. Combilift’s independent electric traction system - previous Red Dot award winner - provides 100% traction control for all front and rear drive wheels. This system eliminates the need for a differential lock on slippery surfaces, reduces load swing, as well as enhancing safety and precision when transporting long, heavy loads - particularly when navigating sideways, regardless of ground conditions, for example.

‘Manufacturer Product Innovation of the Year’ was awarded to the cutting-edge Combi- LC Blade machine

Combi LC Blade – ‘Manufacturer Product Innovation of the Year’

Combilift’s second award – ‘Manufacturer Product Innovation of the Year’ – went to the Combi LC Blade, a cutting-edge machine designed specifically to address the growing challenges of transporting offshore wind turbine blades from the manufacturing plant to storage or transportation facilities. These blades, which can reach up to 115m in length and weigh up to 70 tonnes, have long posed logistical challenges due to their size, fragility and complexity.

Combilift CEO and Co-Founder, Martin McVicar, said: "We're more than delighted to have won not just one, but two prestigious accolades at this year's Archies, making this our 12th ceremony to date. Competing against such high-calibre competitors highlights what a fantastic team we have, which are willing to push the boundaries of the material handling industry."

These awards solidify Combilift’s winning momentum after taking home ‘Design Team of the Year’ for the LC Blade and ‘Industry Leader Award’, which recognised Martin McVicar’s transformative leadership at the UK EMA Awards in London, meaning the Irish manufacture has won four awards in total within just two weeks.

As Archimedes once said, “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.” Combilift embodies this spirit of innovation, continuously pushing the boundaries of material handling solutions; for further information, see www.combilift.com.