To mark the production of its 100,000th forklift, Combilift launched its largest-ever worldwide competition, offering the exclusive 100,000th “Golden Prize” multidirectional Combi-CBE. All proceeds raised were donated to UNICEF Ireland’s Children’s Emergency Fund.

The campaign generated €56,500 in ticket sales, and at a cheque presentation ceremony, Combilift announced it had topped up the total contribution to an impressive €100,000, underlining the company’s long-standing commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Speaking at the handover, Combilift CEO and Co-Founder Martin McVicar said:
“This campaign was designed not only to celebrate a major manufacturing achievement for Combilift, but also to make a meaningful difference beyond the factory floor. By supporting UNICEF, we are supporting one of the world’s most effective humanitarian organisations and helping children who need it most.”

The cheque was formally presented by Martin McVicar to Owen Buckley, UNICEF Ireland’s Head of Corporate Partnerships, and Michaela Plunkett, Business Development Manager, in Monaghan.

Owen Buckley welcomed the donation, saying:
“As we enter the winter season, our priority is ensuring children affected by war and natural disasters have access to warm clothing, safe shelter and continued education. This generous contribution from Combilift will help UNICEF respond quickly to urgent needs.”

The winning ticket was purchased by Kareen Farrell, who travelled to Combilift’s headquarters in Monaghan to receive the one-of-a-kind 100,000th Combi-CBE “Golden Forklift.”

Reacting to her win, Kareen Farrell said:
“I was absolutely delighted when I heard I had won, as I’m never lucky. My dad shared the competition details and bought a ticket to support UNICEF because it’s a children’s charity that helps children all over the world, so winning the forklift was an incredible bonus.”

The Golden Forklift was first unveiled at the IMHX Exhibition in the UK before embarking on a European trade show tour, attracting strong international interest and reflecting Combilift’s global customer base and shared commitment to positive social impact.

UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product or service.

The system is available with audible, visual and optional traction alerts. Upon pedestrian detection, a voiceover communicates pedestrian proximity, and a light indicates which zone the pedestrian is in on the truck-mounted operator remote. Traction alerts go a step further by automatically and gradually slowing down the lift truck, an effect similar to the operator removing their foot from the accelerator. While the operator remains in ultimate control of the equipment, this deceleration effect is intended to get their attention and encourage them to avoid the detected pedestrian by applying the brakes, steering away or both.

“Operator situational awareness is a critical element of forklift and pedestrian safety, and our continued investment in Hyster Reaction operator assist solutions is meant to provide an extra layer of support as they navigate their surroundings,” says Steven LaFevers, Vice President, Global Emerging Technology, Hyster. “Our goal with the pedestrian awareness solution is to provide technology that operators can easily understand and use, capable of performing reliably in real-world applications – whether at a lumber yard, construction site or heavy manufacturing environment.”

The pedestrian awareness detection system was developed using extensive amounts of photographic data collected from worksites. It adapts to various lighting and environmental conditions, and can be used for both indoor and outdoor forklift applications. The system is optimized for travel speeds of 5 miles per hour or less, giving operators ample time to identify alerts and react to avoid contact. The camera is mounted to the rear, forks-trailing side of the lift truck, and alerts disengage once the identified pedestrian is no longer in view of the camera. The system is available in multiple configurations, allowing operations to get audible and visual alerts only, or take advantage of all three, including traction alerts that engage deceleration.

The pedestrian awareness camera is the latest addition to the Hyster Reaction lineup of operator assist technologies that take input from the work environment and equipment status to alert operators and adjust lift truck performance. The solution initially launched in 2021, and the technology has since accumulated over 24 million hours of run time on more than 8,300 units deployed in the field.

About Hyster

Hyster is a leading worldwide provider of Hyster^® forklift truck and container handling solutions for the toughest, most intense industries on earth. The company designs and manufactures an industry leading, comprehensive range of material handling equipment, meeting the unique demands of everything from fast-paced industrial warehouses and manufacturing facilities to the most demanding, heavy-duty applications like ports and terminals. Backed by a dedicated, global dealer network and nearly a century of material handling experience, Hyster is the trusted resource customers can count on for technology tough enough for their worksites and proven solutions that keep critical operations moving.

Hyster Company is a division of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster-Yale, Inc. (NYSE:HY) which is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio and operates globally.

The aisles in modern warehouses are getting ever narrower, their racks ever taller and the dimensions of the goods stored in them ever more varied – yet heavy loads still need to be transported and stored efficiently.

This is where the DIMOS Hawk really comes into its own, reducing the need for fiddly manoeuvres that take up time and space with its 360° continuous steering and ensuring maximum efficiency when moving loads in any direction. The Hawk’s strengths are particularly welcome in the building materials, steel and wood trades and for door and window manufacturers or companies in the plant and mechanical engineering industries. Its versatility makes it the perfect truck for mixed use, where both palletised loads and long goods need to be transported sideways safely.

A compact champion for confined spaces

Available with a load capacity of 3 t, the Hawk impresses right across the board – from its flexible, fully electric steering to its compact design, which makes it a nimble companion for challenging storage spaces. This allows users to lay their warehouses out efficiently and maximise available space. Besides being low-noise, energy-efficient and emission-free, the fully electric drive also contains no hydraulic components, making it extremely low-maintenance and long-lasting. The braked load wheels fitted to the three-wheel running gear are another highlight, ensuring safe and even braking and acceleration and maximum directional stability, especially when handling long goods. What is more, the Hawk’s ergonomic crosswise seat cabin gives the operator an excellent all-round view, making operation easier in very tight spaces and during complex manoeuvres.

About DIMOS Maschinenbau GmbH

DIMOS Maschinenbau GmbH, founded by Dieter Modrey and Alfred and Hanna Schütz, has played a lead role on the international market in the field of warehouse and industrial trucks for the past 30 years. Using the latest technology and innovative ideas, DIMOS is gradually expanding its product range and is now able to develop individual solutions for almost any application. With its company headquarters in Petersberg near Fulda, a good infrastructure and a highly motivated, strong team of around 100 employees, DIMOS offers a high degree of flexibility in the development, design and production of customer-oriented special solutions. A new self-contained DIMOS branch with 15 employees was set up in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, in 2022.

Available in capacity ranges of 3,200-to-4,000-pounds and 3,000-to-7,000-pounds respectively, the trucks are designed to help an even broader range of operations meet sustainability targets and productivity goals through the benefits of this advanced electric power source, including zero tailpipe emissions, fast charging times, consistent power delivery and zero battery maintenance. The trucks complement existing models in the UT series and create opportunities to electrify applications when doing so had historically been cost-prohibitive.

“The counterbalanced forklift market is seeing an accelerating shift towards electric, signaling electrification and sustainability as priorities across industries and in materials handling in particular. Advances in motive power, especially lithium-ion, are the catalysts driving the transition,” said James Nielson, Senior Business Product Manager for Motive Power and Electrification, Hyster. “These new UT models deliver a competitive value that makes lithium-ion more accessible to more applications, without complex warranty or support limitations.”

Hyster provides service and warranties on the truck, battery and charger for maximum uptime, productivity and customer satisfaction. The lithium-ion battery can fully charge in about two-and-a-half hours and opportunity charging allows the trucks to work for the majority of a full day. The trucks also offer a number of ergonomic features, including a low step height, a small, adjustable steering wheel and a wide-view mast that helps maximize visibility and supports operator comfort.

The Hyster UT line initially launched in 2019 with a series of lift trucks powered by internal combustion engines. The series was further expanded in 2022 with a number of electric warehouse models and earlier in 2023 with multiple sit-down counterbalance lead acid battery-powered trucks.

About HYSTER Company

Hyster Company is a leading world-wide lift truck designer and manufacturer. Hyster Company offers 130 lift truck models configured for gasoline, LPG, diesel and electric power, with one of the widest capacity ranges in the industry — from 2,000 to 105,000 lbs. Supported by one of the industry’s largest and most experienced dealer networks, Hyster Company builds tough, durable lift trucks that deliver high productivity, low total cost of ownership, easy serviceability and advanced ergonomic features, accompanied by outstanding parts, service and training support.

Hyster Company is a division of Hyster-Yale Group, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (NYSE:HY) which is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio and operates globally.

IMPAQ

EnerSys^® developed the 24-Hour Quick Ship Program to help forklift and material handling fleets cope with ongoing supply chain challenges and be better equipped to handle unexpected fluctuations in operational demand. The available IMPAQ and NexSys^®+ charger models will ship from the recently expanded EnerSys Distribution Center (DC) in Richmond, Kentucky.

“Developed to streamline and speed up order fulfillment, our 24-Hour Quick Ship Program is another way EnerSys helps material handlers meet time-sensitive challenges,” said Chad Uplinger, Vice President Motive Power Americas. “When time is of the essence and your facility needs the fastest possible power solution, EnerSys has you covered.”

EnerSys IMPAQ and NexSys^®+ chargers are both high frequency chargers that provide exceptional energy efficiency and feature a modular design for better reliability. Both units are UL listed and comply with California Energy Commission (CEC) appliance efficiency standards.

ABOUT ENERSYS^®

EnerSys, the global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, manufactures and distributes energy systems solutions and motive power batteries, specialty batteries, battery chargers, power equipment, battery accessories and outdoor equipment enclosure solutions to customers worldwide. Energy Systems, which combine enclosures, power conversion, power distribution and energy storage, are used in the telecommunication, broadband and utility industries, uninterruptible power supplies, and numerous applications. Motive power batteries and chargers are utilized in electric forklift trucks and other industrial electric powered vehicles requiring stored energy solutions. Specialty batteries are used in aerospace and defense applications, large over-the-road trucks, premium automotive, medical and security systems applications. EnerSys also provides aftermarket and customer support services to its customers in over 100 countries through its sales and manufacturing locations around the world. With the NorthStar acquisition, EnerSys has solidified its position as the market leader for premium Thin Plate Pure Lead batteries which are sold across all three lines of business.

SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability at EnerSys is about more than just the benefits and impacts of our products. Our commitment to sustainability encompasses many important environmental, social and governance issues. Sustainability is a fundamental part of how we manage our own operations. Minimizing our environmental footprint is a priority. Sustainability is our commitment to our employees, our customers and the communities we serve. Our products facilitate positive environmental, social and economic impacts around the world.

The updated brand reflects strengths at all levels of the organization, with independent dealers empowered to provide a seamless, responsive customer experience and the factory developing industry-leading lift truck technology solutions. The Yale focus on research and development and technology integration has an established record of bringing technology to market quickly, including commercial deployments of industry-first operator assistance technologies, hundreds of robotic lift trucks, and advanced electric power options.

“Warehouses face a tough outlook, with persistent labor challenges threatening productivity and risking safety incidents. But when operations look to suppliers for help, they’re met with complacency and rigid terms based on what’s best for the factory – not the needs of modern warehouses,” says David Furman, President, Marketing, Strategy and Business Development, Yale. “We think it’s time warehouse operations rethink what they expect from lift trucks, technology and suppliers. That’s why we’ve invested in a more creative approach built around the customer, engineering lift trucks as smart technology foundations and bringing innovations to market, faster.”

The independent Yale^® dealer network plays an important role in enabling the Yale technology experience on the warehouse floor. Dealers are free from the constraints of factory ownership and are instead empowered to focus solely on customer success, matching them with a solution tailored to their needs and providing the responsive support necessary for real-world results.

“Just as Yale has extensive experience developing and integrating lift truck technologies, we have the front-line experience implementing, supporting and helping customers get the most out of robotics, telematics, electric power and more,” says Coit Edison, President, MH Equipment Company and President, Yale Dealer Council. “We benefit from the OEM focus on developing advanced, smart lift truck solutions, freeing us to focus on serving customers with the agility and flexibility today’s warehouses require.”

The rebranding also includes an updated logo that reflects the capacity of technology to push material handling operations forward. The logo features the same iconic “Yale” text, but with the addition of a box made of arrows that indicates the movement of lift trucks and products in the warehouse, and the brand’s role in advancing the industry and helping customers grow.

About Yale

Yale Lift Truck Technologies leverages over a century of material handling experience and substantial investment in innovation to bring the most advanced technology-driven lift truck solutions to market. The company offers a full line of award-winning lift trucks, including reach trucks, order pickers, turret trucks, pallet jacks and trucks, pallet stackers, tow tractors and counterbalanced forklifts, as well as powerful operator assist solutions, proven robotics and a wide range of power sources to help customers adapt to today’s demanding supply chain. Yale and its independent dealer network support these solutions with comprehensive after-sales service, parts, financing and training.

Hyster-Yale Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. (NYSE:HY) which is headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio and operates globally.

Hyster Company announces that two of its forklift models have been voted as top products of 2022 by readers of Material Handling Product News and MaterialHandling247.com. The J230-360XD36/48 was voted the year’s top lift truck and accessories product, while the H40-70A was elected the year’s best ergonomics and safety product.

“These two award-winning lift trucks demonstrate our commitment to delivering solutions that address the wants and needs of our customers,” says Martin Boyd, Vice President, Product Planning and Solutions, Hyster Company. “Whether customers are looking for tailored solutions they can build around their application or a solution designed to empower them to transition even high-capacity trucks from internal combustion to electric, our approach is to provide choices and work in partnership with customers, consulting on the optimal solution for their operations.”

Powered by a factory integrated lithium-ion battery, the J230-360XD36/48 offers lift capacities up to 36,000 pounds, bringing zero emissions and performance comparable to that of an internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered truck to heavy-duty industries such as steel, concrete, lumber, agriculture and ports. The integrated lithium-ion battery enables opportunity charging, high uptime and a low total cost of ownership.

The ergonomically designed, high-visibility cab also puts high productivity within reach. An armored glass top window, curved front and rear windows and steel doors with tempered glass provide excellent all-around operator visibility. The largest cabin entry area in the industry makes access more convenient for the operator, and inside the cab, a full-color touchscreen puts performance data at the operator’s fingertips. An ergonomically designed control arm, an adjustable steering column and a unique foot pedal design provide additional support for operator comfort and productivity all shift long.

In addition to the win for the J230-360XD36/48 electric lift truck, Hyster took home a second Product of the Year Award for the recently launched H40-70A, the first models in the new, highly configurable A Series lineup. These 4,000-to-7,000-pound capacity ICE forklifts are designed and manufactured according to a scalable approach that helps customers maximize operator performance while keeping a low total cost of ownership. Customers can choose the options they need from a fully integrated set of adjustable features, based on their unique application.

The A Series also offers robust standard features, such as the innovative Dynamic Stability System, which uses sensors to continually monitor truck status. When it detects the truck exceeding designated stability thresholds, DSS automatically implements measures like limiting truck speed and hydraulic function, to help minimize the risk of forward and sideways tip overs.

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Material Handling Product News and MaterialHandling247.com Readers’ Choice Products of the Year Awards honor the achievements of companies for advances in materials handling systems and equipment within manufacturing, distribution centers and warehouses. Companies were invited to submit the products they felt were worthy of product of the year honors, and MHPN readers decided the winners in 15 categories.

ABOUT HYSTER COMPANY

Hyster Company is a leading world-wide lift truck designer and manufacturer. Hyster Company offers 130 lift truck models configured for gasoline, LPG, diesel and electric power, with one of the widest capacity ranges in the industry — from 2,000 to 105,000 lbs. Supported by one of the industry’s largest and most experienced dealer networks, Hyster Company builds tough, durable lift trucks that deliver high productivity, low total cost of ownership, easy serviceability and advanced ergonomic features, accompanied by outstanding parts, service and training support.

Hyster Company is a division of Hyster-Yale Group, Inc., 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 8,100 people world-wide.

The A Series is a new line of forklift trucks manufactured using the company’s A+ Logic design philosophy. A+ Logic is a scalable approach that begins with the strong base of the A Series truck platform and allows customers to choose the options they need from a fully integrated set of scalable and adjustable features based on their unique application.

“We developed A+ Logic because no two customers face identical challenges, and meeting their needs means building the truck around them – not a generic, off-the-shelf solution,” says John Santiago, Director, Product Planning and Solutions, Hyster. “The tight-knit collaboration between our dealers and customers is an essential part of our approach, and the A Series platform allows us to act on that, delivering a lift truck solution built around their needs, with everything they need and nothing they don’t.”

The flexibility to get only the options needed enables the H40-70A to deliver the capability operations require while protecting budgets. Durable components and extended service intervals help further control maintenance spend and bolster reliability and uptime.

While the A Series offers exceptional configurability, it also offers robust standard features, such as DSS. Standard on all H40-70A models and completely maintenance-free, DSS uses sensors to continually monitor truck status. When it detects the truck exceeding designated thresholds, DSS automatically implements measures like limiting truck speed and hydraulic function, to help minimize the risk of forward and sideways tip-overs.

“The A Series delivers the tough, high-quality forklifts that customers in demanding applications expect, with advances to support truck stability, operator best practices and ultimately, productivity,” says Jimmy Anderson, Product Manager, Hyster. “As operators push to get the job done, DSS lends them a helping hand, automatically reinforcing their training. It gives visual indicators, audible alerts and automatic performance adjustments for stable travel that keeps business moving. Whether you are an operator, a manager or a business owner, DSS is a tool to help you meet your targets for performance and safety.”

The focus on the operator extends to ergonomics, with the H40-70A designed for high levels of visibility and comfort to equip operators for optimal performance all shift long. The operator compartment enables easy entry and exit with a lowered seat, increased floor space, and generous head and shoulder clearance. A low dash and wide mast design provide excellent forward visibility, and an optional high-strength laminated glass roof offers an unobstructed upward view to help operators placing loads at height.

ABOUT HYSTER COMPANY

Hyster Company is a leading world-wide lift truck designer and manufacturer. Hyster Company offers 130 lift truck models configured for gasoline, LPG, diesel and electric power, with one of the widest capacity ranges in the industry — from 2,000 to 105,000 lbs. Supported by one of the industry’s largest and most experienced dealer networks, Hyster Company builds tough, durable lift trucks that deliver high productivity, low total cost of ownership, easy serviceability and advanced ergonomic features, accompanied by outstanding parts, service and training support.

Hyster Company is a division of Hyster-Yale Group, Inc., 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 8,100 people world-wide.

“Heavy-duty operations have traditionally relied on lift trucks powered by either propane or diesel engines, but increasingly stringent government legislation and the market’s greater focus on environmental sustainability are making electric equipment an increasingly appealing option for many,” says Martin Boyd, Vice President, Product Planning and Solutions, Hyster Company. “The J155-190XNL makes lithium-ion power accessible to a greater range of customers and operations, providing the high performance they expect while simultaneously supporting their initiatives for carbon footprint reductions.”

The lithium-ion battery pack offers consistent power delivery throughout the charge, with no performance degradation as battery life declines. The sealed lithium-ion battery pack requires no regular maintenance, offers a longer battery life than lead-acid batteries and can fully charge in less than 90 minutes. Truck operators can also opportunity charge the battery for short periods of time whenever convenient, which can help increase truck run time.

The J155-190XNL can work in both indoor and outdoor applications, designed for the demanding duty cycles of industries like lumber, automotive, metals, paper and more. The ability to work in a range of conditions helps operations maintain a lean lift truck fleet by preventing the need for extra lift trucks used only for certain environments.

The J155-190XNL series is part of the Hyster lineup of factory-integrated lithium-ion lift trucks, drawing on the company’s decades-long history of developing electric options. That lineup also includes trucks with even higher capacities, up to 36,000 pounds, and models that re-imagine the traditional counterbalanced lift truck design to take advantage of the lighter, smaller size of a lithium-ion battery, producing a more spacious operator compartment, lower truck weight and center of gravity, and more.

ABOUT THE AWARD

For more than seven decades since its inception, The Chicago Athenaeum continues the organization of the program to create a revived awareness about contemporary design and to honor both products and industry leaders in design and manufacturing that have chartered new directions and pushed the envelope for competitive products in the world marketplace.

GOOD DESIGN® is the oldest and the most prestigious Awards Program organized worldwide.

ABOUT HYSTER COMPANY

Hyster Company is a leading world-wide lift truck designer and manufacturer. Hyster Company offers 130 lift truck models configured for gasoline, LPG, diesel and electric power, with one of the widest capacity ranges in the industry — from 2,000 to 105,000 lbs. Supported by one of the industry’s largest and most experienced dealer networks, Hyster Company builds tough, durable lift trucks that deliver high productivity, low total cost of ownership, easy serviceability and advanced ergonomic features, accompanied by outstanding parts, service and training support.

Hyster Company is a division of Hyster-Yale Group, Inc., 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 7,800 people world-wide.

With Combilift’s unique portfolio of forklifts, the company is revolutionizing the way businesses handle and store materials, especially long and awkward loads, or when space is limited.  Employing more than 600 people in their headquarters in Monaghan and with customers in more than 85 countries, Combilift is a formidable force in the Material Handling Industry. Innovation permeates throughout the company, and this has now been extended to capture children’s imaginations at the grassroots level.

At first glance, the pairing of a children’s book and one of the largest indigenous companies in Ireland may not seem like a likely fit. However, when asked about this, Emer explains, “I approached Combilift just over a year ago, with a view to proposing a novel, unique way to communicate with existing and potential customers, as well as being involved in the education of the next generation.  The idea was to write a children’s book which
‘cartoon-izes’ the main Combilift products and transforms them into characters that children will love.  I wanted to also use it as a marketing tool for the adults, and so I used the USPs of the actual forklifts and turned them into the superpowers of the characters! That way, both adults and children would get something from the book!”  Emer continues, “Martin McVicar (CEO & Co-Founder) really liked the idea – especially the educational aspect for children, and as a result of his astuteness, we proceeded with the book and CombiKids was created. So Combilift is ‘Lifting Innovation,’ and now CombiKids is ‘Lifting Imaginations’ “

According to Emer, when writing the book “The Forklift trucks and their Secret Superpowers,” it was important to achieve a balance between Combilift branding and creating a story featuring endearing characters that children would fall in love with. The Combilift adventure is a real page-turner, filled with drama and excitement. The book also has a couple of ‘baddies’ – these are not Combilift trucks, I may add! It is a wonderfully appealing story for children.  For further enjoyment, there is a three-page Activity Section at the back of the book, which includes something for all age groups. There is a mix of one-off activities (i.e., Join the Dots and a Word Search Puzzle) and activities that can be completed again and again (a Maze, Spot the Difference, and a Map of the World). These will add to the engagement and interaction that children will get from the book”.

Martin explains, “We believe it was very important to be involved with the education of the next generation and to that end, we already have a number of programs including, apprenticeships, tours, etc. However, our new CombiKids initiative will involve even younger children with Combilift. The idea is that little ones would ‘buy-into’ the Combilift brand when they are young by creating an association with it – thus encouraging future engineers and lots of other budding talents, as well as motivating children to read. It is a great way to highlight Combilift to a wider community that may not be overly familiar with it”.

The CombiKids book highlights overcoming difficulties, the importance of friendship, and that bullying is unacceptable.

Needless to remark, the hero is always a Combilift truck who ‘saves the day.’ Also, as the forklift trucks are all different shapes and sizes – there is an element of, no matter what someone looks like or what shape or size they are, it is important to be accepting of others and of differences.

Combilift is a proud member of Guaranteed Irish, and the CombiKids book very much reflects this.  Supporting local businesses and the importance of Irish jobs – particularly during Covid19 – is incredibly important to the ethos of Combilift. With that in mind, the book is printed by Winters Print, Drogheda, illustrated by Jon McCormack, Kildare, and typeset by idesignworx, Monaghan. In addition, Combilift is also very mindful that charities are really suffering during the pandemic in terms of support and donations and has committed to donating ALL proceeds from book sales to the incredibly deserving charity, Make-A-Wish Foundation Ireland.