Combilift Limited was presented with the Exporter of the Year Award 2008 after winning the Manufacturing Exporter Award 2008 earlier in the evening. The Manufacturing Exporter Award is presented in recognition of export achievements of companies in the manufacturing sector in both securing and building new markets given the difficult times being experienced for the sector. Combilift Limited was awarded the top prize – Exporter of the Year Award – because of its impressive performance in developing and exporting the world’s first engine powered multi-directional forklift. The company now employs some 200 people at its plant in Monaghan and will produce over 2000 units this year. Combilift currently exports to some 50 countries and the company this year introduce a new model ‘’COMBI-CB’’ that is expected to add a further €10 million to its already impressive €90 million annual turnover. 

Martin Mc Vicar , Combilift managing director had this to say on accepting the award:

‘’Since our inception we have offered a customised range to suit various individual requirements across a range of industry sectors. This customer-led approach has been a strong component of our success and has been setting us apart from other mainstream manufacturers since our inception in 1998.’’

‘’On behalf of the management and staff of Combilift who have worked hard for the company success, I wish to thank the Irish Exporters Association for this Award. ‘’

Sector Category Winners

There were a number of sector categories and the winners in each went forward for the Exporter of the Year Award. Following are the nominees and winners in each sector.

Emerging Exporter Award 2008.
This new award category, sponsored by the County and City Enterprise Boards, recognises exceptional performance by small Irish businesses in developing export activity. The nominees for this category were: Ballytherm Ltd., Ballyconnel, Co. Cavan; Seftec Ltd., Carrigaline, Co. Cork and Simteck Aviaton International Ltd., Dublin.
The winner was Ballytherm Ltd. for its range of foil-coated insulation boards which it is selling in Northern Ireland and Britain.


Multinational Exporter Award 2008, sponsored by IDA Ireland, recognises the exceptional performance of multinational companies in contributing to Ireland’s impressive export performance. Nominees were: AMO Ireland Ltd., of Dublin; Genzyme Ireland Ltd. Waterford; Globoforce Dublin and Stryker Orthopaedics Ltd., Limerick.
The winner was AMO Ireland which provides the full range of advanced refractive technologies and support to help eye care professionals deliver optimal vision and lifestyle experiences to patients.


The Life Sciences Ireland Exporter Industry Award 2008 recognises the achievements of companies in the pharmaceutical, medical devices and allied sectors. The award was sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers. The nominees for this award category were: Aerogen Ltd., Galway, Creganna, Galway, Genzyme Ireland Ltd., of Waterford and Stryker Orthopaedics Ireland, Limerick.
The winner was Creganna, Ireland’s largest indigenous company in the medical device sector supplying products, technologies and services to medical device manufacturers worldwide.


The Services Export Award 2008 was sponsored by Enterprise Ireland and recognises the efforts of Irish companies in securing and building new e of Wexford; Simtech Aviation International Ltd. Dublin Airport and NuaLight of Cork .
The winner was Simtech Aviation International Ltd. for its range of training programmes for world-wide aviation companies..


The Manufacturing Exporter Award 2008 sponsored by Enterprise Ireland recognises the achievements of manufacturing companies in securing and building new export markets. The nominees were: Althone Extrusions Ltd., Athlone, Co. Westmeath; Combilift Ltd., Monaghan and Gerkros Heating Technology, Tipperary Town.
The winner was Combilift who then went on to become Exporter of the Year 2008.


The Software Exporter Award 2008 sponsored by Enterprise Ireland recognises the achievements of software companies in securing and building new export markets. The nominees, all from Dublin, were: Globoforce; Luzern Solutions Ltd., OpenJaw Technologies and Openet. The winner was Globoforce the world’s leading provider of on-demand, global, strategic, employee recognition solutions for Global 2000 companies.

 


 

The First Flight Export Award 2008, sponsored by Enterprise Ireland, recognises the achievements of companies that are successful in entering an export market for the first time. This award was open to all companies involved in the First Flight Export Programme organised by Enterprise Ireland and the Irish Exporters Association. The nominees for this category were: Cygnum Timber Frame Ltd., Macroom, Co. Cork; PEL Recycling Equipment, Balla, Co. Mayo and Quality Irish Foods, trading as Mister Crumb, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
The winner was PEL Recycling Equipment for its success in exporting equipment for the recycling industry.

 


 

The Seafood Exporter Award 2008, sponsored by Bord Iascaigh Mhara, recognises companies in the seafood industry that have made significant progress in securing and building export markets for Irish seafood. Nominees for this category were: Connemara Seafoods, Westport, Co. Mayo; The Kenmare Salmon Company Ltd., Kenmare, Co. Kerry and Pasta Concepts Ltd., Naas Co. Kildare.
The winner was Connemara Seafoods for its success in exporting shellfish, both fresh and frozen to European markets.

 


 

The Irish Food and Drink Export Award 2008,sponsored by Bord Biá, recognises achievements in the food and drink sectors. The nominees were: Green Isle Foods, Naas, Co. Kildare; STGN Ltd. trading as Ribworld, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary and Quality Irish Foods trading as Mr Crumb, Mullingar.
The Winner was Green Isle Foods for developing the new Mc Dougalls Uppercrust pastry products in the Portumna R& D facility for the UK and for expanding it’s pizza range into Nordic markets.

 


 

The Innovation Exporter Award 2008, sponsored by Forfás, recognises companies that have made a significant innovative contribution to exporting resulting in a new technology, product or service, or a new use for an existing product. The nominees were: Globoforce, Dublin; Openet, Dublin and Seftec Ltd., Carrigaline, Co. Cork. The winner was Openet which is a leading worldwide provider of event processing and transaction management software solutions to leading telecom service providers.

 


 

The Short Sea Shipping Company of the Year Award 2008 recognises the strategically important role of short sea shipping to our island economy and is sponsored by the Irish Maritime Development Office. The nominees were: Containerships Ltd., Dublin; CMA CGM Shipping Ireland Ltd., Dublin and DFDS Container Line, Waterford.
The winner was Containerships Ltd. for its door-to-door container service from Ireland to Finland, the Baltic States and Russia.


The Logistics Company of the Year Award 2008, sponsored by Dublin Port Company, recognises the importance of logistics and supply chain management companies to the exporting effort of firms trading internationally from Ireland. The nominees, all based in Dublin, were Burke Shipping Group, DHL , Geodis Ireland and Kuehne & Nagel.
The winner was Geodis Ireland for its effective and efficient logistics and supply chain management enabling its clients to compete in overseas markets.

 


 

Sponsorship

The Irish Exporters Association gratefully acknowledges the sponsorship of Bord Bía, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), County and City Enterprise Boards, Dublin Port Company, Enterprise Ireland, Forfás, IDA Ireland, the Irish Maritime Development Office and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

ENDS

For further information contact: John Whelan

Irish Exporters Association

Telephone: 01 661 2182

Fax: 01 661 2315

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