As Australia develops the infrastructure required for electrification, Combilift is ready to deliver powerful improvements to local warehouses.
The forklift manufacturer has been investing heavily in modern technologies to stay ahead of the game, with more than 90 per cent of its range now fully electric.
Combilift Founder and CEO, Martin McVicar, said that it is vitally important for his company to make a positive impact on the environment and its customers’ health.
“In the last five years, roughly 90 per cent of our R&D investment has gone into electric power equipment. The majority of vehicles we’re now bringing to market are electric,” Mr McVicar said.
As Australia’s deadline for net zero approaches, it’s becoming more apparent that sustainability and electrification are two of the most important pillars of innovation for growing companies.
Knowing this, Combilift has continued to release products with the aim of creating more efficient and less impactful operations.
These included the autonomous Combi-AGT; the fleet management solution, Combi-Connect; and the Combi-LC blade straddle carrier for the handling of large wind turbine blades and towers.
These solutions allow Combilift to fulfil its three pillars of improving safety, maximising storage, and increasing efficiency.
The great battery debate
To power Combilift’s electrification, Mr McVicar has remained a strong voice in favour of lead-acid batteries, despite the automotive industry opting for lithium.
“In the car industry, the lithium battery has become the norm for electric vehicles, but no one has really figured out how to recycle them effectively,” Mr McVicar said.
“In seven to ten years, recycling these lithium batteries could become a challenge if there’s no solutions found.
“On the other hand, lead-acid batteries last for much longer and they’re 80 per cent recyclable. So, while we wait for more environmentally friendly alternatives, we feel lead-acid batteries are best.”
In 2021, CSIRO found that Australia recycled 99 per cent of lead acid batteries, while only ten per cent of lithium-ion battery waste was recycled.
Further, the CSIRO predicts that lithium-ion battery waste is growing by 20 per cent per year and could exceed 100,000t by 2036.
“Lithium batteries are lighter, which is why the automotive business tends to use lithium – they want the vehicle to be as light and aerodynamic as possible,” Mr McVicar said.
“But in the forklift industry, no matter what the model is, our vehicles need counterweight to lift the load. So, lead-acid batteries act as that load, instead of adding more steel.”
Accelerating electrification
Combilift Country Manager for Australia, Chris Littlewood, said that both the company’s research and that of industry experts points to Australia’s desire for accelerated electrification.
“The country has been building in readiness for this next wave of technological innovation. The infrastructure is being put in place and most businesses are trying hard to reduce their emissions,” Mr Littlewood said.
A 2023 report from JLL revealed that 53 per cent of Australia’s top 100 industrial and logistics companies have net zero targets. Mr McVicar hopes that with Combilift’s help every one of these businesses can achieve their targets.
“[Electrification] has been our focus for the last five years, as well as how to measure the efficiency of those trucks,” Mr McVicar said.
“As a company, we’re inherently focussed on sustainable solutions. And by that, I mean we’re focussed on making vehicles that are more environmentally friendly to use, as well as vehicles that enable our customers to make their warehouse utilisation more environmentally friendly.”
Featured image: The Combi-LC blade straddle carrier. Image credit: Combilift.
