Glosrose Mechanical Handling, part of the Glosrose Group, has been appointed as Impact Handling's dealer partner for the south east of England.

The family-run company has almost 40 years of experience in the forklift sector and will provide sales and after-sales support for the full range of Cat lift trucks offered by sole UK importer Impact Handling.

Russ Butcher, service director at Glosrose, says: "Both Glosrose and Impact Handling are well-established names within the materials handling sector and we see great opportunities for the Cat lift trucks range in the south east."

He says while it's "still early days", the dealer has seen a demand for the brand and the 1.5 T to 8 T counterbalanced range would meet the needs of customers in the area.

"We have [several] loyal customers who rely on us to fulfill their materials handling requirements quickly and effectively - working in partnership with Impact Handling more than allows us to do this," Butcher says.

The Kent-based business has a team of 25 mobile service engineers and can provide assistance to customers 24 hours a day. Glosrose also has access to Impact Handling's extensive parts service with Cat Lift Trucks. Spare parts that are unavailable in Glosrose's own parts store can be delivered the next day.

With a short-term hire fleet of 300-plus machines and a contract rental fleet of more than 500 units, Glosrose says it is confident it will continue to grow its business with the new partnership.

Impact Handling managing director Terry Kendrew says his company is looking forward to working closely with Glosrose Mechanical Handling. "The south east is a strategically important area for us and offers a great opportunity to build upon our existing customer base and realise the full potential of the Cat Lift Trucks brand in the south east."

Glosrose Mechanical Handling was established in 1976 by Tony Butcher. Today the company is managed by Tony's son, Jake.

The company has just appointed Rob Cramsie to a newly created position of general sales manager. Cramsie, formerly with Linde Material Handling UK, has 15 years of industry experience in the dealer and manufacturing sectors.

Impact Handling operates from nine UK locations, supported by strategic dealer partners. The company enjoyed a year of expansion in 2013, opening a new facility in Manchester in March and acquiring Birmingham-based Abex in July (Forkliftaction.com News #628).