In trying to take advantage of the slowly improving economy, the US forklift unit of TCM Corp has added dealerships and undertaken a marketing initiative.
Columbia-based TCM America Inc distributes forklifts and related products and provides support with parts and technical service through its dealer network.
"We have added several new dealers over the past six months," notes Frank Russo, TCM America general manager of sales and marketing manager.
"The 'new' TCMA organisation will become dealer- and user-sensitive while providing a quality blue-collar, low-cost-of-ownership product," Russo notes.
The appointments include these dealerships:
* Sunbelt Industrial Trucks of Dallas, Texas
* LPM Forklift Sales & Service Inc of Bethany, Oklahoma including the Oklahoma City and Tulsa markets
* NorthWest Handling Systems of Renton, Washington in the Seattle market
* Scott Lift Truck Corp. of Elk Grove Village Illinois in the Chicago market
* Maryland Industrial Trucks of Linthicum, Maryland
* Liftruck Service Co Inc of Davenport, Iowa
* Wholesale Equipment Inc of Fresno, California including the Sacramento and Stockton markets
"Like all manufacturers, TCM is in the ongoing process of continually evaluating its dealers and its dealer coverage," Russo says. "TCM has many exciting plans for the near future."
Russo joined TCM in August 2010. Previously, he worked for Crown Equipment Corp as general manager of engine-powered products and, earlier, with Komatsu Forklift USA as vice president of sales and director of national accounts.
Names of the terminated dealers were withheld. One dealer facing termination, however, comments to Forkliftaction.com News from a different perspective: "TCM's lack of loyalty disappoints me."
During the first quarter of 2010, TCM America consolidated its North American activities in Columbia and discontinued marketing, parts and distribution functions previously located in Swedesboro, New Jersey and Houston, Texas. TCM said it was temporarily suspending manufacturing and assembly operations in its partially automated South Carolina plant
(Forkliftaction.com News #450).
The four core operations for Osaka, Japan-based parent company TCM Corp are forklift trucks, construction machinery and systems, large-scale material and container handling systems, and product support including parts, service and training.