 Nissan's Peter Kruse, left, with Audie Burgan of JM Equipment |
JM Equipment Co Inc of Manteca anticipates the launch of its newly designed website in April and acknowledges the president's award from Nissan Forklift Corp.
"We are grateful to be recognised once again for our efforts," says Audie Burgan, one of JM Equipment's six owner-principals.
"Many factors contributed to JM Equipment's selection to receive this top honour" for the fourth time, says Peter Kruse, president of Nissan Forklift Corp in Marengo, Illinois. "Among them is that this organisation achieved unprecedented growth across all areas of the company, including new equipment sales, service and aftermarket."
In 1990, Nissan Forklift introduced the president's award, which recognises a single dealership that embodies the essential characteristics found in the most accomplished organisations. Burgan accepted the award during a dinner hosted by Nissan Forklift to celebrate its top nine dealerships.
In an interview, Burgan discussed 2013 economic indicators for his marketplace. Burgan sees the near term as "flat" versus 2012 and observes, "I do not see any spikes coming up. The people in the marketplace are conducting business as usual."
JM Equipment, in the agriculture-dominated San Joaquin Valley, became a Nissan dealer in 1982, represents the brand in the central California market and has received four Nissan president's awards and other recognition from Nissan for dealer excellence in both sales and customer service.
The firm has a forklift rental fleet of more than 1,500 units and sells more than 750 forklifts each year.
In addition to Nissan, JM Equipment represents the Hyundai forklift line, particularly for its heavy lifting and narrow-aisle capabilities, and the Linde forklift line for specialised applications. The firm's Hyundai extensive territory extends to the Pacific Ocean coastline and the Oregon state boundary. The smaller Linde territory includes five counties in central California.
In addition to its Manteca facility near Modesto, JM Equipment has other California locations in West Sacramento, Fresno and Patterson. The firm has 185 employees with about 60% of its business involving equipment for agricultural applications and the remainder for industrial applications.
In addition to forklifts, JM Equipment's agricultural offerings include tractors, feeding systems, nut harvesting units and hay cutters and balers. Other equipment includes carts, burden carriers, delivery vehicles and ranch utility units.
Roland Quimby founded the business as a farm tractor and implements company in 1936 and was the key executive at JM Equipment until his death in 1991.