GW Van Keppel Co says it added representation of the Nissan Forklift Corp and Anhui Heli Co Ltd lines in the St Louis market on 16 July.

Nissan Forklift of Marengo, Illinois has delayed the release of any official details of the deal with Van Keppel. In St Louis, family-owned and -operated AD Lift Truck has represented Nissan and disputes the change. Matthew Aplington with the St Louis-based Lowenbaum Partnership LLC law firm represents AD Lift Truck on this matter.

Nonetheless, Van Keppel is pushing ahead. "We are trying to grow and expand in the materials handling business," says Glenn Henry, general manager of Van Keppel's materials handling division. "We are in the development stage now with a slow methodical eye toward a return on investment" for supporting the additional territory.

The existing Van Keppel facility on Page Service Drive in St Louis has sufficient space to accommodate the Nissan and Heli materials handling equipment business in addition to its ongoing construction equipment, quarry supplies and trench safety activities, says branch manager Pat Meara.

Including the St Louis market, Van Keppel claims to represent Nissan in seven locations in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, Heli Americas in six locations in the same states and Linde Material Handling North America Corp in five locations in Kansas and Missouri.

In adding the St Louis market for Nissan and Heli, "now we have two-thirds of Missouri and a small area in southern Illinois", Henry notes.

"We have some additional expansion on the drawing board."

During 2011, Van Keppel began representing the lines of Nissan in October and Heli in December.

From 1993 to 30 September 2010, Van Keppel had represented the Hyster brand of Nacco Materials Handling Group Inc.

Across all of its business lines, Kansas City, Kansas-based Van Keppel employs more than 200. The operations involve materials handling equipment, construction equipment, quarry supplies, trench safety and aggregate crushing/screening through 16 locations in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas.

GW Van Keppel founded the business in 1926 to meet the needs of Kansas City area road builders. William S Walker, now Van Keppel Co president, is a third-generation member of the family.

AD Lift Truck serves the greater St. Louis market including Belleville, Illinois; and St Charles, Ballwin, Oakville and Bridgeton, Missouri.

While in conflict about the Nissan business, AD Lift Truck represents TCM America Inc forklifts; Oshkosh Corp's JLG aerial work platforms and JLG, SkyTrak and Lull telehandlers; and Manitex International Inc's Liftking rough terrain forklifts and special mission-oriented vehicles. AD Lift Truck stopped representing the lines of Doosan Industrial Vehicle America Corp in 2011.

Rudy Dodorico Jr is president and chief executive officer of AD Lift Truck, and his brother, Gus Dodorico, is vice president of sales.

Their father, Rudolph A Dodorico Sr, founded the AD Lift Truck business in 1979, retired in 1995 and died in 1996.