Robert Moffatt — from the first truck-mounted forklift to Combilift

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© Combilift

You might associate the name of Robert Moffett with the Moffatt Mounty and you will be right in suspecting the relationship here. Robert Moffett is indeed the one who designed and manufactured the first truck-mounted forklift that if not revolutionised but at least lead to a little boom in the industry. After the company was sold Robert Moffett together with Martin McVicar, the chief engineer of Moffett Engineering, set up Combilift, now the leader in long-load handling market.

The mounted forklift Robert Moffett designed simplified the lives of material handling professionals — conveniently attached to the back of the truck, it can be attached and dismounted in less than a minute. The machine celebrates its 30thanniversary this year! Developed in 1986, a truck-mounted forklift made deliveries faster and easier and most importantly, cost-efficient. Saving load space inside the truck also meant more products could be carried at a time.

Set up by Robert’s father Cecil Moffett, Moffett Engineering was started up as a small workshop, like so many other great businesses began. After his sudden death Robert, being only 16 at the time, had to leave school and fill in his father’s shoes together with his sister who was only three years older. A decade later the company becomes the leader on the market with the brand-new innovative Mounty truck-mounted forklift.

© Combilift

After selling Moffett Engineering Robert Moffett didn’t abandon his idea of innovating the material handling industry and together with Martin McVicar set up another company — Combilift. It is incredible to see how a business based in a tiny town in Ireland can become so successful that its exports into the rest of the world outweigh the sales inside the country. The concept of Combilift isn’t just selling material handling equipment but a very innovative product — a multidirectional forklift. A mix of a forklift and a side-loader allows for a much safer product handling, increased productivity and less emissions.

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Originally published at ilmm.co.uk on February 12, 2016.