Larry Muelver

LiuGong has continued its North American dealer push, adding Industrial Repair Service of Wausau, Inc. as its forklift dealer in Wisconsin.

Founded in 1981 by Larry Muelver, IRS of Wausau is known not only for its equipment rentals and sales, but for its wide range of industrial repair services.

"I started this company in May of 1981," says Muelver. "In six weeks, I had 62 customers. In six months, I had 121.

"We stand out in a very competitive market because we are honest with our customers, and we are very diversified. Whatever our customers need - forklifts, racking, racking installation, industrial engines of all sizes - we have it. And just as important is the fact that we service it all. Any breakdown that a customer has, we'll take care of it in 24 hours. That is why it is so important to pick the right manufacturer to represent."

Muelver emphasises that a dealer can't make a promise to a customer unless he knows the manufacturer "has his back". During his 40 years in business, he has represented a long list of companies. Of course, he has also watched a lot of companies come and go, so he is always alert to new opportunities. A friend told him that he had just returned from a trade show where he had seen a promising new forklift. It turned out that Muelver was actively looking for a new forklift to represent, so he followed up on the recommendation and was soon signed as a LiuGong forklift dealer.

"They sent me a couple to try out before I made a final decision," says Muelver, "and they were sold as soon as they were delivered, so I had to order another four right away!"

Muelver liked the look and solid build of LiuGong forklifts, and the fact that they are so much easier to service than other brands. "I can tell they have been engineered for ease of service and maintenance, even quite major maintenance," he says. "The ergonomics for the operator is another highlight. It's very comfortable, has plenty of legroom, and is simple to operate. That makes an impression on someone who is taking one for a test drive."

"We couldn't be happier to add a dealer with the deep experience that Larry has," says Ken Biediger, president of LiuGong North America Forklift Division. "We're looking forward to a long-term partnership with IRS of Wausau."

So far this year, LiuGong has added new dealers in Miami and New Jersey.