MATERIAL handling specialist Combilift is celebrating after winning two top accolades at the UK Engineering & Manufacturing Awards 2024.
The ‘Design Team of the Year’ prize was presented to Combilift’s heavy equipment team for its work on the 12-wheel Combi-LC Blade. The machine has been engineered to handle offshore wind turbine blades, which can reach up to 115m in length and weigh as much as 70 tonnes. Combilift explained the design ‘significantly’ enhances the ability to transport these large, non-uniform loads from manufacturing sites to storage and deployment locations.
The solution addresses the growing needs of the renewable energy sector, where the demand for efficient logistics systems is increasing as the size and scale of offshore wind turbines continue to grow.
In collaboration with Siemens Gamesa, Combilift designed a transport system that is said to offer ‘unparalleled stability and safety’ in moving these massive turbine blades. The Combi-LC Blade has now been deployed at manufacturing sites across the globe.
Elsewhere, Combilift co-founder and CEO Martin McVicar received the ‘Industry Leader’ Award in recognition of his ‘visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to innovation’, which have helped transform the business from a small Irish manufacturer into a global leader in the material handling sector.
Since co-founding the company, McVicar has overseen its growth, transforming the firm into one of Ireland’s top exporters with a projected turnover of €500 million this year. His approach to leadership is described as combining ‘technical expertise with a hands-on, inclusive management style’.
The judges highlighted McVicar’s ability to navigate Combilift through a range of external challenges, from the impacts of the pandemic to global supply chain disruptions, while maintaining a ‘forward-thinking approach’ that identifies opportunities for growth and transformation.
