Michel Kremer

Dutch used forklift dealer BS Forklifts this years marks its 30th year in business, now led by Michel Kremer, who started in a sales role shortly after its founding.

BS Forklifts International was founded in 1986 and named after its founders (de Bruin and Schouten).

By 2001, the company which had started with a single employee, mechanic Harry van den Bosch, had outgrown its premises and BS moved to a much bigger site in the same industrial estate.

"At that time, the new premises seemed far too big, but within two years the company needed even more space," says spokesman Bart Meertens. "Due to the ever-increasing demand from the market, the owners decided to extend the existing building, which doubled the capacity to hold machines in stock."

Today, the Raamsdonksveer site spans over 20,000 sqm, half of it under cover.

The workforce has grown to 18 people, including current owner Kremer, who took over the company in 2005. van den Bosch is still working for BS, now as workshop manager. Another employee who started in the second year of BS is also still working there.

BS operates as a forklift wholesaler and trades in both new and used forklifts all over the world. Its inventory comprises more than 1,000 forklifts and other pieces of warehouse equipment.

The business sells Jungheinrich, Still, Toyota, BT, Kalmar, SVEtruck, Mitsubishi, Doosan, Baumann, Manitou, Hyster, Yale, TCM, Komatsu, Unicarriers and other brands of forklifts, warehouse technology, reachstackers, container trucks and heavy-duty forklifts.

There are no plans for any big events to mark the anniversary, but loyal customers can expect a custom watch with the anniversary details engraved on the back, according to Meertens.