Last updated: August 2026
Food and drinks manufacturing is one of Ireland’s most important industries, from multinational food processors to regional drinks producers, these businesses run demanding operations with strict hygiene requirements, high throughput, and little room for downtime.
They also share a problem with diesel forklifts: fumes, maintenance disruption, and running costs that eat into already-tight margins. It’s why electric forklifts have become the natural choice for food and drinks manufacturers across Ireland and Northern Ireland, and why the EFL series from EP Equipment, available through Clearlift has become the go-to solution for operations that need outdoor-capable lifting without diesel.
Why Diesel Doesn’t Work in Food Production
The issue isn’t just cost, it’s compliance and hygiene. Food manufacturing environments are governed by strict HACCP regulations that control contamination risks. Diesel fumes, oil drips, and exhaust residue are all incompatible with food production areas.
Many food and drinks facilities end up maintaining two separate fleets: diesel for outdoor yard work and electric for indoor production therefore doubling servicing complexity, operator training, and capital cost. The EFL series eliminates that split.
The EFL Series: Electric That Works Outdoors Too
Most electric forklifts are designed for warehouse floors. The EP EFL series is different as it sits on an IC truck chassis with large wheels, a robust frame, and the kind of build quality that handles outdoor yard work, ramps, and mixed-surface sites.
This is the key advantage for food and drinks manufacturers: a single electric fleet that covers both the yard and the production floor.
- Zero emissions — fully HACCP-compliant for food production areas
- 80V lithium-ion battery with AC drive motors — powerful enough for heavy pallet loads and long-distance yard movements
- Opportunity charging — top up during breaks without needing a battery swap or charging room
- LED display and telematics — real-time machine monitoring and access control
- OPS (Operator Presence System) — stops the machine if the operator steps off, reducing site safety incidents
- Increased legroom and ergonomic controls — reduces operator fatigue across long shifts
Running Costs That Make the Business Case
For food and drinks facilities running forklifts across one or two shifts daily, the annual running cost difference between diesel and the EFL series is substantial:
- Diesel forklift: typically €10,000–€15,000 per year in fuel and engine servicing
- EP EFL series: typically €1,500–€2,500 per year in energy and minimal maintenance
- Annual saving per machine: €7,500–€12,500
- Typical payback period: 2–3 years
Use our savings calculator to run the numbers for your own shift pattern and fuel spend.
Designed for Multi-Shift Operations
Food and drinks production often runs extended shifts or continuous operations. The EFL series is built for this:
- Opportunity charging during natural workflow pauses — 30–60 minutes gets you back to full
- No overnight battery swap requirement — plug in at end of shift, full by start of next
- Battery rated for up to 4,000 charge cycles with EP’s built-in Battery Management System
- Consistent power delivery from first hour to last — unlike diesel, where performance can vary with engine temperature
Backed by Local Aftersales Support
Downtime in food production is expensive. Our Parts and Aftersales team covers all of Ireland and Northern Ireland from our depots in Navan, Co. Meath and Portadown — with scheduled maintenance, emergency response, and parts availability for the full EP Equipment range.
Ready to See It Working?
Our Navan demo centre in Co. Meath is a working facility — not a showroom. You can put the EFL series through a real operating cycle, test the charging on a break-length window, and talk to our team about how it integrates with your specific site requirements.
Book a free visit: Contact Us
Ireland: 01 5267 411 | Northern Ireland: 028 3833 7038
Clearlift Material Handling — Ireland’s only EP Equipment dealer.
