On 1 August, Houston-based Equipment Depot completed integrating materials handling equipment operations serving all or parts of 14 US states and representing more than two dozen brands of forklifts and access lifts (Forkliftaction.com News #503).

"Creating one Equipment Depot strengthens our position in the industry," says Giel Claes, president and chief executive officer of the materials handling business of parent firm Pon Holdings BV of Almere, the Netherlands.

Equipment Depot has more than 1,400 employees including 700 technicians - some added in recent months - and operates through 40 branches that have 26 service depots. After relocating from Waco, Texas, the new headquarters site in Houston employs 30 others so far, with some joining from out-of-state locations.

Over two years, Equipment Depot worked to better align its personnel, products and service operations with its customers and original equipment manufacturing suppliers. The business streamlined back-office operations and functions such as marketing, human resources, supply chain, information technology and accounting to improve operational efficiencies. Utilising Ultimate Software technology, the effort included combining and centralising six payroll systems.

"From an internal perspective, our reorganisation has created more opportunities for our employees with our national footprint while providing a more efficient structure and framework within which to work," notes Bob Schermer, Equipment Depot chief operating officer. "We're better positioned for future success."

In combining operations, Equipment Depot links markets that, under five former entities, include central Texas, southern Oklahoma, western Louisiana and the Texas-Mexico border region; eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware; southern Ohio, eastern Kentucky, West Virginia and south-eastern Indiana; southern Indiana, western Kentucky and northern Tennessee; and Illinois and north-western Indiana.

The five businesses previously operated under separate geographic identities.

Brand originator Equipment Depot Texas was founded as Central Texas Clarklift in 1975, changed its name to Equipment Depot in 1995 and became part of Pon in 2000. Equipment Depot Pennsylvania was previously Forklift Inc. Equipment Depot Ohio was Portman Equipment Co., Equipment Depot Kentucky was LeveeLift Inc. and Equipment Depot Illinois was Material Handling Services.

In addition to the US operations, Claes oversees four Motrac materials handling equipment companies in western Europe.