Combilift, a global leader in innovative material-handling solutions, is dedicated to supporting STEM education and nurturing the future workforce. By hosting this event, the company aims to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry applications, encouraging students to explore careers in engineering and technology.

At the event, St. Macartan’s VEX Robotics Team, winners of the 2025 the North West Regional Finals, presented their award-winning robot to over 250 students from local schools and talked about the process and skills involved in designing, building and programming a robot. To get a full overview of the competitions a friendly match was held, highlighting the excitement and technicalities of the high-calibre VEX competitions.

Brendan Mc Avera, St. Macartan’s College teacher said: “I am the computer science teacher and in 15 years of teaching, this is probably the best thing I’ve ever been involved in. It really shows the inspiration you can get back from your students when you give them a project to do, and they put their heart and soul into it, and they get their rewards since they’ve won three awards this year”

Through interactive demonstrations and hands-on experiences, young learners gained insight into the real-world applications of STEM and the vital role robotics plays in modern industries.

Martin McVicar continued: “By engaging with these cutting-edge technologies, students can develop skills specific to robotics, hydraulics, and programming, as well as other vital skills such as teamwork, strategy, and problem-solving. These abilities are essential for students’ curricula and are transferable to their future careers in STEM, including potential apprenticeships at Combilift or paths in engineering.”

Martin McVicar also emphasised: “Listening to the skills these students have developed; it makes you proud. It feels like you have a Formula One team in front of you. When you look at the different roles each person plays and the skills they have developed, these abilities will serve them well throughout their lives.”

Through initiatives like this, Combilift continues to play a prominent role in motivating young minds to think innovatively and develop the skills necessary for their futures. By investing in the next generation of engineers, Combilift is helping to shape a brighter tomorrow for everyone.

The assets, some of which are less than 10 years old, were used by Port Huron-based Built Rite Tool & Engineering, a family-owned machine shop that specialized in mold design, engineering and manufacturing services.

“With more than 60 years of combined experience in mold-making, Built Rite’s Rick Smith and his son, Scott, are closing the business and retiring,” explained Wayne Hecht, CAI, GPPA, Director of Operations for Tiger Commercial and Industrial. “Their work centered on making aluminum injection molds for the plastic industry. Because these machines were never used to cut steel—only much-softer aluminum—they are in exceptional shape.”

The timed, online auction closes on Tuesday, August 9, at 10:30 a.m. (EDT). Bidding opens Tuesday, August 2, at SoldTiger.com.

The sale includes a Hurco VMX64i CNC machine that rolled off the assembly line in 2015 and a Hurco VM20 from 2014.

“These are not the only late-model assets,” Hecht said. “For example, the Ford F-150 on offer dates from just 2017.”

Other highlights of the sale include:

• eight additional CNC machining centers by Fadal and Hurco;
• three electrical discharge machines by Xermax and Elox; and
• a large quantity of tool holders and tooling (including System 3R tooling).

In addition to machine vices, pedestal fans, worktables, hand trucks and strapping carts, the available shop equipment includes a:

• Bridgeport Milling Machine
• Acra Radial Arm Drill
• Harig Surface Grinder
• Victor 1640 Lathe
• Kirkhof 40 Ton Spotting Press
• Miller Syncrowave 250 DX Welder
• Trinco Sand Blaster
• Phoenix Cutter/Grinder
• Dake Band Saw
• Champion 20 HP and 10 HP Air Compressors

Additional rolling stock includes a 2001 Ford F-450 flatbed truck and a Hyster 5,500-lb. LPG forklift.

“At a time of high prices and long supply-chain delays for new equipment, this sale represents an extraordinary opportunity for buyers to acquire assets on the secondary market,” Hecht said. “Built Rite was a fully-equipped shop run by machining veterans who took excellent care of the tools of their trade.”

On-site inspections are available on Monday, August 8 by appointment only.

From April 4-7, Yale will feature scalable automation, comprehensive power solutions and enterprise asset management designed to solve the toughest challenges facing today’s distribution and warehousing operations at booth #3147 in the Georgia World Congress Center.

With more than 20,000 distribution, logistics and supply chain decision-makers set to attend MODEX 2016 in Atlanta, Yale Materials Handling Corporation presents an innovative lineup to help attendees gain a competitive edge through improved performance and efficiency.

Self-Guided Truck
Driven by Balyo provides robotic lift truck technology that enables the Yale® end rider to operate as a self-guided truck, which is ideal for delivering products in a wide range of applications. The infrastructure-free navigation requires no tape, wire or magnets for guidance, but uses structural features such as walls, columns or racks. It can manage a single truck or an entire fleet, offering a flexible, scalable automation solution.
Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology – Zero-emissions fuel cell technology and on-site hydrogen generation from Nuvera Fuel Cells LLC, combined with Yale’s material handling industry expertise enables a turnkey solution to help reduce emissions and improve performance. Fuel cell-powered lift trucks can be used to help increase efficiency, lower lifecycle cost, reduce operational disruptions and minimize environmental impact.
Lithium-Ion Battery
Yale offers the first commercially available, UL-recognized lithium-ion battery pack in the lift truck industry. When installed on a Yale® walkie pallet truck, the lithium-ion option lasts up to five times longer than lead acid batteries and requires 23 percent less charging time for increased uptime and reduced replacement costs.
RFID Tags – Fitted to a very narrow aisle truck, Yale® A-WARE, a location-based performance control solution uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags fitted in each aisle, rather than magnets or reflectors, to automatically enforce speed and lift limitations. This allows operators to focus on meeting operational goals, and can reduce downtime and extend equipment life through reduced mechanical wear and impacts.

Wireless Asset Management
Yale Vision helps operations manage costs, protect assets and optimize productivity by monitoring equipment, truck and driver performance to illuminate total cost of operation. Yale Vision will have its own booth, #2263, where attendees can virtually drive trucks in an interactive environment, with a live remote broadcast back in the main Yale booth.

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In addition to visiting Yale booth #3147 and Yale Vision booth #2263, attend the Yale seminar, “The Profitable Energy Equation for Materials Handling,” scheduled for Tuesday, April 5 at 11:15 a.m. in theater D. The seminar will discuss the financial and environmental advantages of using lift truck solutions powered by hydrogen fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries and compressed natural gas (CNG).

To learn more about the technology offered by Nuvera Full Cells, join Nuvera executives Jon Taylor, CEO and Warren Brower, Vice President of Marketing, for a press conference onTuesday, April 5 at noon in the press conference room.

About Yale Materials Handling Corporation
Yale Materials Handling Corporation markets a full line of materials handling lift truck products and services, including electric, gas, LP-gas and diesel powered lift trucks; narrow aisle, very narrow aisle and motorized hand trucks. Yale has a comprehensive service offering including Yale Vision wireless asset management, fleet management, Yale service, parts, financing and training. Yale® trucks are manufactured in an ISO 9001:2008 registered facility and range in capacity from 2,000 to 36,000 lbs. For more information, visit www.yale.com.

Yale Materials Handling Corporation is a division of Hyster-Yale Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (NYSE:HY).  Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. and its subsidiaries, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, employ more than 5,300 people world-wide.

Yale is a Registered Trademark and  is a Registered Copyright and PEOPLE. PRODUCTS. PRODUCTIVITY. is a Trademark in the United States and certain other jurisdiction.