Bendi articulated trucks work in very narrow aisles.

After a year of global sales growth and manufacturing returning to the UK, Bendi is expanding in Western Europe through a strategic partnership with Bendi Europe.

Managing director Simon Brown says the company has always selected distributors that shared its drive and passion. "Having known [Bendi Europe founder] Gary Griffin for a number of years, we are sure Bendi Europe will be a huge success and further strengthen our global dominance in the articulated forklift market."

Bendi articulated trucks work in very narrow aisles and sometimes substitute counterbalance and reach trucks in warehouses. The manufacturer claims to be a leader in the global market, with trucks that save costs and space in the right applications.

Bendi Europe, based near Paris, France, is headed by Griffin who has many years of materials handling experience, including careers in Jungheinrich and Manitou. Bendi Europe will be responsible for sales in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Benelux countries.

Over the past 10 years, Bendi has continued to manufacture in the UK but was forced to outsource some of its production to emerging markets due to the rising costs in the UK. With sales growth and rising costs of international production, the company announced at the end of 2011 that it was transferring production back to the UK.

Tasked with the challenge of developing Bendi's factory in Redditch, company director and co-owner Paul Overfield says: "We have invested heavily in buildings, machines and, most importantly, people to accommodate the new products and to allow for increasing volumes in existing lines.

"The increase in orders both here in the UK and in export sales has thrown up some challenges but they are nice problems to have. We already have a highly-skilled and dedicated workforce in the factory so to create even more skilled UK jobs has been very pleasing for everybody at Bendi."