Forklift News - CASCADE IN AUSTRALIAN SHAKE-UP

BRISBANE, Australia -- Portland, USA-based Cascade Corporation's Asia- acific arm has spent "a lot of money" changing its structure to improve customer accessibility and meet growing demand.

Cascade Queensland manager Graham Ede said the company had consolidated its advice and technical support branches and established a national call centre, based in Brisbane.

Customers can now dial 1800-CASCADE (2272233) for customer support, sales and technical support.

Stock levels have been reduced at branches because of the centralised support system.

"Customer surveys showed clients were tired of never being able to reach people on the phone," Mr Ede said.

"This was mainly due to our sales staff being constantly meeting clients and having their phones switched off.

"With the new system, customers call the national centre and can be assisted instantly, or a message can be instantly emailed to their relevant territory manager for follow-up."

Cascade, which employs more than 100 staff in Australia, had enjoyed "solid" fiscal year results, due partly to increased export sales throughout Asia.

Mr Ede dispelled rumours Cascade had closed its Australian branches, and that the move was linked to the imminent sale of Cascade Corporation in the USA.
The parent company is currently in sales negotiations with three major parties in the USA: TD Capital Group Ltd, Lift Technologies Inc and the Ontario Municipal Employees' Retirement Board.

Negotiations were to be finalised by September 29, but industry sources suggest an announcement is "at least" two weeks away.

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