Canadian Forklift Distributors Ltd (CFDL) added seven independent dealers during 2006 and plans to add another six or seven this year.

CFDL established its Heli Fork Lift Canada division in January 2005 under an exclusive agreement with Anhui Heli Co Ltd, of Hefei, China.

In addition to Heli forklifts, other units of CFDL represent the narrow-aisle warehouse line of E-P Equipment Co Ltd, of Xiacheng, China; pallet and walkie forklift supplier Mo Doo Industry Co Ltd, of Seoul, South Korea; E-Go Electric Vehicles, of Suzhou, China; and Canadian Forklift Wholesale.

Jim Chesla, CFDL general manager, said: "We bring product to small-to-medium-sized, independent dealers across Canada who are often overlooked in the quest for market share by the big boys" in the forklift industry. "We provide an economical alternative."

CFDL has 21 dealer branches with about one-third in the Province of Ontario, where CFDL is based in Thorold. "About 52 per cent of Canada's gross domestic product comes from Ontario and about 40 per cent of forklifts sold are in Ontario." Chesla said.