By Roger Renstrom

Clark Material Handling Co has appointed G&W Equipment Inc and Tri-Lift NC Inc as authorised distributors for forklifts, parts and service in the Carolinas.

Scott Johnson, director of Clark dealer development, said the G&W appointment, effective from September 1, involved three North Carolina sites, in Charlotte, Raleigh and Hickory, and one South Carolina location, in Columbia.

The Tri-Lift NC appointment, effective from July 28, involved one location in Greensboro, North Carolina.

G&W and Tri-Lift NC succeed now-closed Industrial Truck Sales & Service Inc as Clark distributors (Forkliftaction.com News #260).

Both distributors also represent Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks at the same sites. G&W also represents Mitsubishi in Greenville, South Carolina.

The Sabbagh family owns and operates Charlotte-based G&W, which began operations in the Carolinas in 1963 dealing mainly with aerial lift equipment. John Sabbagh, G&W vice president of sales, said G&W started representing Mitsubishi in 1997.

Tri-Lift NC began operations in 1992 as a branch of Tri-Lift Inc, in Connecticut, and became an independent entity in 2003. Tri-Lift NC began distributing Mitsubishi equipment in late 1996 and Genie-brand equipment, now owned by Terex Corp, in 2001, Bob Bond, Tri-Lift NC president, said.

Johnson said Clark Material Handling, in Louisville, had added products and other dealers.

"Clark has completed the turnaround of its forklift business and is enjoying continued growth and profitability. In the last year, we have introduced several new products to the market, including the 100 -per cent AC TMX three-wheel counterbalanced rider truck and the EXC four-wheel counterbalanced rider truck."

Clark operated under Chapter 11 protection of the US Bankruptcy Code from April 2000 until January 2003, when Young An Hat Company Ltd, of Buchsan, South Korea, acquired Clark's assets (Forkliftaction.com News #92).