UniCarriers Americas' Anthony Salgado and CFE's Tony Sessa

Borrowing common football terms, CFE Equipment Corp relies on basic "blocking and tackling" to achieve success, says Tony Sessa, owner and president.

"We have a strong continuing dedicated sales effort, in particular for new equipment, and we have a strong and dedicated service team," he says.

While final figures are unavailable, Sessa speculates that CFE sales increased 15% to 20% during the fiscal year ended 31 August versus the previous fiscal year.

Recently, Anthony Salgado, president of UniCarriers Americas Corp (UCA), recognised CFE with its fifth Nissan president's award.

Using another sports term, the optimistic Sessa says he aims for a three-peat in 2014 after wins in 2012 and 2013.

James Radous III, UCA executive vice president of sales, says, "The president's award represents the premier honour from UCA and is the most challenging accomplishment for dealers. CFE Equipment embraces the important principles of collaboration among its team, exhibits respect and passion for our profession and continuously pursues excellence in all its endeavors."

Norfolk-based CFE employs about 100 and has branches in Richmond, Roanoke and Manassas, Virginia and Jessup, Maryland and some presence in the adjacent North Carolina and Delaware markets. In addition to Nissan, CFE represents the Crown, Hyundai, Landoll, Hoist, Manitou, Heli Americas, Blue Giant and Barrett forklift brands.

Radous notes, "2013 was a transitional year for UniCarriers Americas that produced positive results for the company and our dealers." CFE was among the 2013 Nissan Forklift nine dealer-of-excellence award winners.

Others winners include Capital Equipment & Handling of Hartland, Wisconsin; Forklift Systems Inc of Nashville, Tennessee; Forklifts of Minnesota Inc of Bloomington, Minnesota; Hoj Forklift Systems of Salt Lake City, Utah; JM Equipment Co Inc of Manteca, California; JV Equipment Inc of Edinburg, Texas; M&L Industries LLC of Houma, Louisiana; and MSB León SA de CV of León in México's State of Guanajuato.

UCA of Marengo, Illinois has a network of more than 150 authorised dealerships with nearly 300 locations across North, Central and South America. UCA is a wholly owned subsidiary of a unit of Tokyo-based UniCarriers Holdings Corp, which is owned 53.3% by the Innovation Network Corp of Japan, 26.7% by Hitachi Construction Machinery Co Ltd and 20% by Nissan Motor Co Ltd.