Dayton-based KMH Systems Inc has added the Nissan, TCM and Clark brands in some markets and sold its remaining authorised Yale dealerships and related assets to respective Hyster distributors in four geographic marketing areas.

"We have been with Yale for 25 years and are leaving on good terms," says Michael Guenin, KMH president and chief executive officer. "I have nothing but high esteem for that company." Nacco Materials Handling Group Inc (NMHG) of Greenville, North Carolina manages the Yale and Hyster brands.

"I wanted to grow our footprint, and NMHG was trying to get Yale and Hyster (under one structure)," Guenin says. "We worked it out, and they allowed me to sell the (Yale) franchises."

In growing its materials handling equipment and systems division, KMH will have full-service forklift operations in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Lexington, Kentucky; and Elk Grove Village, Illinois for the Chicago market.

"These markets are contiguous to KMH's current facilities operated in six cities located in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Tennessee and will distribute new forklifts and lift trucks in addition to our integrated systems and construction equipment divisions," Guenin says.

"KMH appreciates the contribution of all NMHG employees and specifically executives Don Chance and Bob Sattler, but KMH's business model has evolved, and these transactions fulfill the strategic plan of all parties involved," Guenin says.

In certain locations, KMH is partnering with Nissan and TCM holding company UniCarriers Corp and, separately, Clark Material Handling Co.

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co Ltd and Nissan Motor Co Ltd are merging the forklift businesses operated by Hitachi subsidiary TCM Corp and Nissan unit Nissan Forklift Co Ltd. The parent companies and investment fund Innovation Network Corp of Japan established UniCarriers in April 2012 and plan for Tokyo-based UniCarriers completing the merger during the second quarter of 2013.

Lexington-based Clark Material Handling announced the KMH appointment on 2 October. KMH's Clark territories include Grand Rapids and three Indiana locations in South Bend, Logansport and Fort Wayne.

KMH's "increased territory footprint . . . now extends from Chicago to Chattanooga," Guenin notes. "The addition of these brands will create new opportunities for our employees to better serve our client base."

MH Equipment of Chillicothe, Illinois is now an authorised Yale dealer in the Dayton market.

MH started in Peoria, Illinois in 1952 as one of the smallest Hyster dealerships in the US. It employs more than 600 and has 26 locations in 10 mid-west and east-central states. In 2011, MH Equipment began offering Classes I-V Yale lift trucks in the St. Louis, Missouri and Cincinnati, Ohio markets.

The forklift division of Bohl Equipment Co of Toledo, Ohio becomes an authorised Yale dealer in the Fort Wayne market, and, as part of the transition, acquires certain new Yale forklifts and aftermarket parts from KMH. Bohl also represents Hyster forklifts, Cushman industrial vehicles, Mobile lift pallet jacks and Rico custom equipment and operates an industrial overhead crane division. Bohl has a branch in Marion, Ohio in addition to its Toledo and Fort Wayne locations.

Alta Equipment Co of Wixom, Michigan is now an authorised Yale dealer for the Elkhart and South Bend, Indiana, markets and, as part of the transition, is purchasing certain new Yale forklifts and aftermarket parts from KMH.

Other than Yale, Alta's core brands include Hyster, Combilift fork lifts and, among heavy-duty units, Volvo construction equipment, Link-Belt cranes and Gomaco concrete pavers. Alta employs more than 400 and has 16 locations in Michigan, Illinois and Indiana.

The KMH transition away from Yale started with a transaction on 31 July when LiftOne LLC of Charlotte, North Carolina replaced KMH as an authorised Yale dealer in the Tennessee market and purchased certain new Yale inventory and aftermarket parts from KMH.

Founded in 1976, KMH employs 200 including more than 100 technicians, and has 12 mobile materials handling equipment support operations in six states.

In addition to Nissan, TCM and Clark, KMH's lines include equipment from Columbia Par Car, Combilift, Cushman, Flexi, Genie, Generac, Hoist Lift Truck, Hytrol, Interlake/Mecalux, Landoll's Bendi and Drexel, Orion, Motrec, Karcher, JCB, Pettibone, Seegrid, Sellick and TICO terminal tractors. KMH employs more than 100 technicians.