by US correspondent Roger Renstrom
Engineered Performance Solutions LLC (EPS) has entered the market to test powered industrial trucks, off-road construction equipment and aftermarket forklift attachments and mast assemblies.

The firm also designs attachments and assemblies for original equipment manufacturers (OEM).

EPS acquired the third-party testing responsibilities of Kalmar RT Centre and JRJ Enterprises, both of Cibolo, on December 31. Terms were not disclosed.

The limited liability company addresses a need for testing in the industrial truck market as harmonisation of standards and market expansion occur worldwide.

EPS conducts tests on tilt tables, test stands, track components, electronic devices and computers at its facility in Cibolo near San Antonio, Texas, and at customer and OEM offsite locations. "Part of each initial test plan includes how the customer wants to see the data," said Randy Wingenroth, EPS managing director and principal. Customers select global baseline standards for use in the testing.

EPS, formed last April, employs seven plus consultants as required who, collectively, have more than 80 years of industrial truck testing and evaluation experience. Before he established EPS, Wingenroth was affiliated with Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc, in Houston, Texas, as manager of test and standards compliance.

Kalmar RT Centre continues to supply rough terrain materials handling systems with capacities of 4,000lbs to 50,000lbs (1,800kg to 22,500 kg) for the military, and JRJ continues to design and supply aftermarket accessories and components for off-road performance-type vehicles, such as all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles.