Combilift representative Highlander to buy MTS

Highlander Equipment Co, of Somerset, has agreed to buy Maintenance Technology Specialists Inc (MTS), of Linden, New Jersey, effective from April 1.

"Discussions began in September," says Highlander general manager Paul Richardson. "The strengths of MTS complement the growing customer base within Highlander Equipment" in the metropolitan New York City region.

MTS president Dave Kennedy is scheduled to join Highlander. He has more than 35 years' experience in the materials handling industry.

Kennedy started with Raymond dealer Dierckx Equipment Corp, in Long Island City, New York, as a technician and later became Dierckx general service manager before starting his own business in 1990. Kennedy found success in marketing very-narrow-aisle (VNA) forklifts in the New York market.

Established in 1997, Highlander Equipment represents the Bendi, Drexel and Combilift brands of forklifts and has strength in the New York market for man-down VNA systems for warehouses and long-load applications.

Richardson says Highlander is "currently the metro New York leader" in the VNA forklift category.

Recently, without disclosing details, Highlander Equipment expanded into the forklift markets in metropolitan Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware. "The acquisition of MTS will help provide support for this new region," Richardson says.

Richardson says Highlander employs 15 people and MTS four.