A Hoist Liftruck heavy-duty pneumatic forklift

Hoist Liftruck's new UK partnerships will be the key to opening up new sales opportunities to the region's ports. Five new dealerships have recently been established in the UK and Ireland, bringing the total to six.

Hoist's director of marketing, Dan Peter, says the partnership with the new UK dealers is key to selling heavy-duty pneumatic forklifts and the new empty container handler to the ports in the UK.

The signing of five new dealers is part of Hoist's European expansion plans. "The company has been in the process of expanding the Hoist name and product internationally for a few months."

Forktec GmbH signed a deal in Germany earlier this year to be the exclusive Hoist Liftruck dealer in Germany.

"The UK was one of the first areas where we wanted to establish a new presence," Peter adds. "In addition to receiving much interest from the UK in our products, we wanted to ensure the best possible service support for not only our new customers, but our current customers as well."

The Carrylift Group will represent Hoist in northern England, the north west Midlands and Scotland. HFT Forklifts will cover the West Midlands and Northern Wales and Mexmast will cover Sussex, Surrey, Kent and South London. Southwest Wales Industrial Equipment will cover South Wales and Carryduff Forklift will cover Northern Ireland.

Peter says having reputable dealers in the UK and Germany allows companies in Europe and surrounding regions, which may not know the Hoist Liftruck name or products, to talk with Hoist representatives and view the products in person.

Julie Houghton, marketing supervisor of Carrylift Group, says selling Hoist's products will not only strengthen Carrylift's product range and reinforce its position in the market, it will enable Hoist and Carrylift to expand into new markets.

Each of the dealerships will provide sales and service support for the Hoist product. An aftermarket parts hub is being established among the UK dealer network.

Hoist's existing dealer in the UK, Locators Ltd, has been representing the company for more than two years. Peter comments Locators has taken tremendous steps in successfully marketing and selling the Neptune Series marina forklift in the UK.

"With notable deals with MDL Marinas and Dean & Reddyhoff, as well as excellent customer service and support, Locators has replicated our reputation in the United States perfectly in the UK," he says. "We look to have Carrylift Group, HFT Forklifts, Mexmast, Southwest Wales Industrial Equipment and Carryduff Forklift follow the same path."