SUSTAINABILITY HAS become a priority for companies around the globe, with businesses seeking practical methods to reduce emissions while maintaining productivity.

As a result, companies continue to invest in technologies with a reduced environmental impact, electric forklifts play a key role.  

Combilift has made sustainability central to its product development, with 98% of its R&D focused on energy-efficient and electric-powered equipment. Today, more than 70% of its production is electric.  

CEO and Co-Founder Martin McVicar explains: “Sustainability is at our core – we’re highly focused on making our vehicles more environmentally friendly and helping our customers maximise their warehouse efficiency.”      

Combilift’s commitment to expanding its electric range continues, with the company’s most recent product launches all being fully electric models. These new additions are designed to meet the growing demands of material handling operations, delivering the power required to handle heavier, longer loads while supporting space-saving, and sustainable operations.  

Martin McVicar highlighted: “Almost every model in our extensive range of products is now available with electric power. The ever-increasing lift capacities will answer the demand for more powerful products, which at the same time help companies to achieve their aims for more sustainable operations.”     

A standout example is the multidirectional Combi-CB70E, the most compact 7-tonne multidirectional counterbalance forklift in its category. Its small footprint and sideways capability make it ideal for transporting long and bulky loads, such as timber panels or steel beams, through narrow aisles and confined spaces while maximising warehouse storage, a task that is challenging with traditional forklifts.  These features, in turn, also allow for a much better use of available space.

Another of Combilift’s latest additions is the Combi-FSE 8000, an 8-tonne four-wheel electric sideloader, ideal for handling structural timber, packs of sawn wood, steel and other long products in confined indoor or outdoor environments. Its optimised under-deck battery placement improves visibility, balance and battery changeovers, making it well suited to multi-shift operations.   

Electric solutions for narrow-aisle warehousing

For warehousing applications, the Aisle Master combines the manoeuvrability of an articulated forklift with the ability to operate in aisles as narrow as 1.6 metres. Available with electric power, it can lift to heights of up to 15 metres, helping businesses maximise both floor and vertical space while supporting efficient material flow in busy warehouse environments.

The electric range also includes the Aisle Master Order Picker (AME-OP), which has been developed to simplify order picking while helping businesses maximise warehouse capacity. By combining the benefits of an articulated very narrow aisle (VNA) forklift with those of a dedicated order picker, the AME-OP enables operators to work efficiently while reducing the space required for storage aisles.

Combilift’s pedestrian range is also fully electric, providing a solution for applications where other staff members and pedestrians are nearby. By keeping operators close to the load and the surrounding environment, pedestrian-operated trucks can provide greater awareness and control in confined or busy areas.

A key safety innovation within the pedestrian range is its patented multi-position tiller arm. At the touch of a button, the arm rotates left or right while the rear wheel pivots parallel to the chassis. This repositions the operator from behind the truck to the side, keeping them out of the crush zone while providing a clear line of sight over the load and aisle. This design, additionally, enables operation in aisles from 2.1 metres wide, helping businesses make better use of available space without compromising safety or manoeuvrability.

Sustainability beyond electrification

Benefits of using electric forklifts go beyond lowering emissions. They offer additional operational advantages such as improved indoor air quality, lower operating and maintenance costs, and significantly quieter operation. These benefits contribute to a healthier working environment without compromising performance or productivity.

However,  sustainability is about more than electrification. Making better use of existing warehouse space can have an equally significant environmental impact.  

By enabling narrower aisle operation and higher racking, Combilift’s innovative forklifts help customers maximise existing facilities, eliminating the need for costly and carbon-intensive warehouse extensions or relocations. Reduced building footprints also lower energy consumption for heating, cooling and lighting while shortening travel distances throughout the companies’ facilities.  

Martin McVicar emphasises this point: “We have always viewed Combilift as more than just a designer and manufacturer of forklifts and other handling solutions. Space is one of the most valuable assets our customers possess, and if our trucks can help them improve storage density, then everyone benefits.”     

Combilift also offers a complimentary warehouse design and layout service. Its team of very experienced design engineers demonstrates how space can be configured to optimise storage capacity according to the capabilities of Combilift’s products. In some applications, available storage space can be increased by up to 50%.  

By combining electrification with intelligent space optimisation, businesses can improve the efficiency of their material handling operations while making better use of existing facilities.

Visit Combilift.com  or contact us at [email protected] for more information.