Clark Material Handling Co has recognised dealerships in the US states of Ohio, Minnesota and West Virginia and the Canadian province of Alberta as 2011 dealers of excellence in North America.

In conveying his congratulations, Dennis Lawrence, president and chief executive officer of Lexington-based Clark, says, "We are extremely proud of the spirit of partnership and family between Clark and our dealers, and we look forward to continued growth in 2012."

The top performing dealers in both forklifts and parts are Valley Industrial Trucks Inc of Youngstown, Ohio; AR Williams Materials Handling Ltd of Calgary, Alberta; Forklifts of Minnesota Inc of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Jefferds Corp of St Albans, West Virginia. Dealers of excellence represent the top 8% of the dealer group.

Five dealers of distinction - in the top 15% of the dealer group - are JH Ryder Machinery Ltd of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada; Gray Lift Inc of Fresno, California; DIMPSA of Puebla in the Mexican state of Puebla; Tri-Lift NC Inc of Greensboro, North Carolina; and K-Lift Service Co Inc of Salinas, California.

Clark named Apex Material Handling Corp of West Chicago, Illinois as its new dealer of the year.

Twelve dealers of merit were also named: Ameco Services S de RL de CV of Santa Catarina, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; Equipment Depot Ltd of Waco, Texas; Infiniti Handling Systems of Garden City, New York; Material Handling Inc of Dalton, Georgia; Fraza Forklifts of Plymouth, Michigan; WE Johnson Equipment Co of Doral, Florida; Big River Equipment Co Inc of Davenport, Iowa; Sooner Lift Inc of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Williams Machinery LP of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Ozmaq SA de CV of San Luis Potosi in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosi; Delta Materials Handling Inc of Memphis, Tennessee; and Cepamosa SA de CV of Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, Mexico.

Clark in North America has more than 85 dealers and 200 locations. Young An Co of South Korea privately owns Clark, which globally is present in 102 markets and supports 550 dealer locations.