Impact Handling is expanding into the West Midlands following its acquisition of Birmingham-based materials handling firm Abex.

Impact Handling is buying Birmingham-based materials handling company Abex to enable it to expand into the West Midlands.

The acquisition, the price of which is confidential, is the "perfect foundation" for Impact to grow into one of the UK's largest industrial areas.

Managing director Terry Kendrew says Abex is well suited to join the company's network and represent the Cat Lift Trucks brand. "There are strong synergies between Abex and Impact Handling; like us, Abex is focused on local engagement with customers in similar sectors, they have skilled and experienced staff and provide the full suite of sales, maintenance, parts and short term rental services."

The deal is a key part of Impact Handling's strategy to boost its network coverage as the sole distributor for Cat Lift Trucks in the UK and Ireland. The Birmingham site becomes the 11th Impact Handling depot and follows the opening of a new facility in Manchester in March 2013.

Abex, which was established in 1966 and entered the forklift truck market in 1987, will continue using its trading name and will operate as a subsidiary of Impact Handling. The lease on Abex's 7,000 sqft. (650 sqm) facility in Cato Street, Birmingham has been secured until 2019, and the company's 25 staff will remain to run the business unit.

Martin Connop, former managing director of Abex, is working closely with Impact Handling during the initial implementation period. "Customers will continue to deal with the same staff in the depot, and we're absolutely focused on making sure the only changes customers see are positive," he says.

Besides offering the Cat Lift Truck range, Abex will also retain its dealership of Combilift machines for the long-load handling market - a brand already offered by Impact Handling. It will also continue to sell its MAP3 mobile access platform, which won a Fork Lift Truck Association award for safety in 2010.

Through Impact Handling, Abex will have access to a comprehensive line-up of complementary products making it a true 'one-stop-shop' in terms of product supply and aftercare. This includes heavy-duty forklifts, articulated forklifts, industrial cleaning equipment and cranes.

"As a national supplier, we can provide access to significant stocks of new and used equipment, an extensive short-term rental fleet, plus in-house transport nationwide, which can be key for multi-sited customers," Kendrew explains.

The acquisition was supported by Impact Handling's South African parent company, Eqstra Holdings.

"Acquisitions are a key part of our growth strategy, alongside the organic development of existing depots and our strong track record for winning new business," Kendrew says. "It's an exciting time for Impact Handling as we continue to expand, supported by a parent company keen to invest in overseas business development."

Abex currently supplies more than 350 rental machines in the West Midlands, and maintains another 600 assets owned by its customers.

Established in 1985, Impact Handling is one of the UK's largest independent materials handling companies. In addition to being the sole distributor for Cat Lift Trucks in the UK and Ireland, it is also the main agent for major brands including Kalmar, Combilift, Lancer, Narrow Aisle Flexi, Mobicon and JLG. The company operates from 11 locations and has more than 300 employees, including over 200 service engineers. It operates a combined fleet of more than 5,000 rental units, and supports 2,000 customer-owned machines and 2,000 used assets.