John L Faulkner

John L Faulkner has gained a wide range of experiences over his decades in the up-and-down world of the forklift industry

The native Texan prefers to look at positive milestones, such as the celebration of 30 years in business for FMH Material Handling Solutions Inc, and he eyes the future. "I look forward to many more years of servicing customers in the material handling industry."

As president of Denver-based FMH, Faulkner oversees a multi-line materials handling equipment organisation that represents 10 brands. The dealership has connections and works closely with the makers of Caterpillar, Clark, Crown, Donkey, Doosan, Heli, JLG, Jungheinrich, Linde and Sellick equipment.

Faulkner gained early experience as a Clark customer service dealer, spending time in the forklift industry in Sherman, Texas. He established his first dealership, the start of FMH, in El Paso, Texas, for Clark in 1978, initially with seven employees.

Subsequently, FMH added dealerships in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1984, Denver, Colorado, in 1987 and Bell Gardens, California, in August 2007. FMH sells new and used forklifts, warehouse products and pallets jacks and, across four locations, has an inventory of more than 400 short-term rental units.
In California, FMH bought the venerable Industrial Forklifts Inc dealership from Bob and Alda Sichting. Bob Sichting's father started the business in 1956 as Roy's Lift Truck Services.

Now, the full-service Bell Garden location employs 23 people and represents the Jungheinrich and Doosan brands. It continues to use the motto, "A satisfied customer is our first consideration," first coined by Roy Sichting more than 50 years ago.

Faulkner shares his market perspectives. "The material handling industry has been affected by the softening in demand. Some markets are down 40%."
Faulkner suggests the flaws, resulting in what he characterises as "an inevitable situation", go back to the late 1970s and are "a function of overcapacity and overbuilt" manufacturing space with projects undertaken because "there was too much credit where it should not have been" extended.

FMH employs 186 people and generates annual sales of more than USD46 million. Faulkner served on the Clark dealer council for 14 years and has held numerous positions with materials handling industry groups.