Nacco Materials Handling Group (NMHG) and Olathe, Kansas-based Systems Materials Handling Company (SMH) have formed a strategic alliance under which the entire SMH aftermarket parts line up will be available to Hyster and Yale dealers in the Americas.

In documents leaked to Forkliftaction.com News this week, Nacco notified Hyster and Yale dealers in the Americas that they would have access to SMH's intuitive online parts network "during the next 90 days". The alliance means the dealers will be able to order more than 250,000 competitive parts direct from SMH.

Once the agreement is finalised, Nacco's Danville distribution centre will no longer stock competitive OEM parts. Forkliftaction.com News understands Nacco is "very anxious" to gain dealer support, encouraging them to source all parts through the new alliance.

"This ... arrangement will eliminate the need for any alternative outsourcing by you. Without significant sales gain, we cannot make the economics of this arrangement pan out for SMH or NMHG," said Yale aftermarket vice president Paul Laroia.

The fate of NMHG's part businesses, Unisource and Premier, is unknown. Neither NMHG nor SMH responded to Forkliftaction.com News before deadline.