Really good points made AP. I think they have a few more though? B.A & lions share of Heathrow, Gatwick, Corus, Magnet, Wolsey? They do, along with Briggs seem to be most progressive. Briggs seem better equipped with Yale. I see they've got TP & Homebase sorted long term with Yale kit & obviously must be doing a good aftersales job. Has relinquishing CAT hurt MCFE? Are Impact progressing? Seems Briggs are always spreading positive factual news.. Are Briggs the best though? They seem to be the strongest of late...

Rushlift only look strong because of one large deal. The pressure will be on for more deals of a similar size each year going forward or the danger is that business becomes unbalanced. One big deal could be a millstone for them in a few years time. In the LTR world you are only strong if the deals keep coming, then you always have a balance of new, mid term and end of term contracts. The frequency of LTR deals being signed is just as important as the size if you are measuring the strength of a business.

I think if you are to go performance this year then rushlift should be there. even though most people might not agree. Briggs as well might make it CarryLift DGP Acclaim not sure , Forkway class as Briggs and Windsor might get there as well.Then would you add Barlow in

Well, we've had some super comments & views from guy's who are by enlarge passionate, knowledgeable industry experts. A great debate, Briggs mentioned more than any, so does this mean a result? Who is the best. Who are the Uk's Top 5 Independents? I'll start with: DGP, Carrylift, Acclaim, Rushlift, & any 1 from Briggs, Barlow, Forkway (Nacco) and Windsor.

oilleak, do you get a free skip with the Atlet

Misterlift is right companies pay to have good thing's wrote about them and they move quickly if they don't like what is written. just look back a number of months a go a northern company did not want anything bad written about them so the stooped post about them being posted it turns out that they were looking at a £100mil deal and this would not go down well with them,so they stopped people having a opinion about them. This opinion might of been right or wrong. So companies will only tell you what they want to hear. The best way to find out about how well a company is doing is to do a company search into there accounts then you will really how they stand. As for Briggs lets see how there masters over the pond will react in 5 years time when trucks come of lease with large balloons and big losses. It is easy to make money today then try to hide the losses tomorrow

oh dear scouse

Bit of stick for me there then , sounds like MrLift has been to a MAX CLIFFORD breakfast club could be his scene. The Millreef point is well made but CAT is an earthmoving brand and never been a good forklift truck ever. Stop sounding so bitter about Richard Close he only gets £350 K p.a.and Briggs did make a fiver 2 years ago , its even been framed. If your`e still not happy MRLift can get you in at ATLET uuuuhhhzzzzzzzzz

Oileak, think you need a reality check. The Monkey metal you refer to is also manufactured in the USA and is a far superior product than that made by the Coal Company. Any one can buy business and as for Yale increasing their market share, not difficult when prior to BRIGGS they only sold around a few hundred trucks per year in the UK. The CEO speaks with fork tongue when he says they have not lost any customers. Then again-

"Never let the facts stand in the way of a good story"

Oileak. You surely don't believe that which is written in the trade press is independent do you?

These organizations employ PR agencies to write articles on their behalf which are spoon fed into the media. The editors simply 'cut and paste' into their own media simply making sure that they are seen to be fair by spreading space amongst the ones who spend money on advertising with them

The fact that you believe what you read is confirmation that this system works extremely well

I think it will be assembly of large components. Going back to the premier league Briggs will fit in well Owned by Americans laden with debt sound's a bit like Gillette and Hicks and we all no how successful that was. What will be interesting is who will be Man City

Millreef. Well the trade press does not agree with you infact since
Briggs took on Yale and ditched the NIPPON product they have increased their market with new orders that Monkey metal could not touch. As for the dealer nettwork i understand Briggs partner Forkway are doing more trucks than the lot of them put together. Me thinks you need a new job perhaps in Newmarket but beware of the WHIPS.

Manufacturing or assembly of large components?

That's interesting were are they to be based in the Ipswich area. This will make there truck more expensive. they will need something good to compete with the likes of Toyota Linde and junghienrich. They won't be able to compete with Doosan,Hyundia,clark on price from the UK. i thought they owned the plant in Taiwan. They must be confident in the product range

What is much more interesting is that Nexen are to shift manufacturing to the UK

Now that takes courage.