Load handling equipment provider Hiab today announces it is investing over €50 million to develop a new Factory of the Future in Dundalk, County Louth for its MOFFETT truck mounted forklift manufacturing operations. When operational in 2023, the new facility will replace Hiab’s existing Dundalk facility. It will include the company’s manufacturing operations and a global hub for innovation and R&D both catering for the rapidly growing global truck mounted forklift sector. Over 100 new jobs will be created during the construction phase where the latest environmental and engineering design solutions will be used to create a modern plant that minimises its carbon footprint.
With record global demand for its truck mounted forklifts, Hiab also announces the immediate recruitment of an additional 100 new roles to add to the current 300 workforce at its existing Dundalk facility, as well as the establishment of a second production facility in Streetsboro, Ohio, USA where the company makes tail lifts sold under the WALTCO brand.
Hiab is the world’s leading provider of on-road load handling equipment, intelligent services, smart and connected solutions. It has a global market leading position in the truck mounted forklift sector which revolutionised the transportation industry in the 1980s with the design of the MOFFETT truck mounted forklift. Customers range from single truck owner-operators and small fleet owners to international fleet and rental companies, across private and public sectors. Its products serve a range of industries including construction, waste management, recycling, forestry, fire rescue, agriculture and landscaping.
Rogier van der Linde, Senior Vice President for Truck Mounted Forklifts at Hiab said: “Hiab’s operation in Dundalk is a key part of the company’s global success story. It has been home to innovation and production of truck mounted forklifts since 1986. It will continue to lead the world in new product development and solutions that ultimately help other business sectors be more effective and efficient in their transportation operations. When completed, our new facility will have world-class manufacturing capacity to service all markets globally. Importantly the new facility will include Cargotec’s global centre for innovation and R&D in the truck mounted forklift segment, continuing a long and successful tradition of innovation in Dundalk. This will enable our world-class R&D team here to meet the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow, providing intelligent services and smart solutions for enhancing electrification, connectivity, as well as identifying new innovations to meet our customers’ changing needs.”
Mr van der Linde said that Hiab is currently at an advanced stage of identifying a suitable site in the greater Dundalk area and expects this to be operational in 2023. He added that the company is also acting immediately to meet unprecedented global demand for its machines.
“While we are developing our new facility here in Dundalk, we are not standing still. We are looking to hire 100 new staff for roles at our current Dundalk facility. The majority of the roles are for general operators with mechanical skills in addition to support roles in Manufacturing Engineering, R&D Engineering, Quality, Warehousing and Planning. We are seeing remarkable uplift in demand for our products both here in Europe and indeed in the US. We are planning for now as well as for our continued success in the future. The establishment of a second facility for the production of truck mounted forklifts in Ohio is to deliver high volume manufacturing capacity for the US market. Whilst, our new Dundalk facility will continue to produce machines for the US market it will also have additional focus and capacity to meet accelerating demand in our growing European and Rest of World markets.”
Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Leo Varadkar TD said “this fantastic news will bring 100 new jobs to Dundalk, plus 100 more during the construction of the new factory. It’s a great boost to the area and I wish the team the very best of luck with the expansion.”
Mr van der Linde said that these announcements also demonstrated Hiab’s commitment and that of its parent company Cargotec to enhance its position as a sustainable manufacturer.
“As a significant provider of load handling equipment to logistics and construction companies around the world, we are committed to playing our part in meeting the global climate challenge. We are a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact’s Business Ambition for 1.5°C and this announcement is part of our plan to turn this commitment into reality. Our new Dundalk facility will deliver significant reductions in our carbon footprint using the latest environmental and engineering design solutions. Secondly, by establishing a facility in Ohio, we will be able to service many of our US customers without having to ship machines across the Atlantic, reducing our carbon footprint in the process. Finally, at our new Dundalk facility our R&D team will have the capacity and facilities to lead on the development of more sustainable machines for our customers.
IDA Ireland CEO Martin Shanahan said “I very much welcome the announcement by Hiab of the expansion of its Irish operation. The inclusion of a new global hub for innovation and R&D in its new manufacturing centre demonstrates the company’s desire to be to the forefront in new product development and solution provision. The associated jobs are welcome and will be a considerable boost to the economy of the North East region. I wish the company every success with these exciting plans.”
