Patrick Protais

Toyota Material Handling Europe (TMHE) has established Toyota Material Handling France (TMH France) to distribute Toyota and BT forklifts in France.

TMH France will oversee sales and support of electric and internal combustion counterbalance trucks under the Toyota brand, as well as BT warehouse trucks.

"We have always recognised the importance of the French market and have benefitted from a strong operation there since 1974," says TMHE president Matthias Fischer. "By combining the strength, experience and talent within the BT France operation with that of our new, additional dealer network, we can offer a unique level of coverage, competence and support in the French market."

Customers in France will benefit from a network that includes 80 locations, 150 sales personnel and 450 service engineers.

TMH France president Patrick Protais says the company aims to stay close to its customers and support their business needs.

"Despite the size of the country, we are able to give our customers the confidence of knowing that there will be an experienced technician within 25 km (15.5 mi.), wherever they are located. We have divided France into eight regions to manage our operations, with the competence that we have brought forward from our BT France operation which is now further strengthened with 34 dealers," Protais explains.

The new French organisation sources counterbalance trucks and accessories from Toyota's manufacturing site in Ancenis, France.

TMHE has a European Office in Brussels and production centres in Ancenis, Bologna (Italy) and Mjölby (Sweden). It is the European regional organisation of Toyota Material Handling Group (TMHG), which is part of Japan-based Toyota Industries Corporation.