Cat Lift Trucks has secured "primary forklift supplier" status with Texas holding company Temple-Inland Inc. in a deal that will strengthen Cat's presence in the forest products market.
The agreement, announced last month, is not an ''exclusivity'' deal but does mean Cat joins Hyster, Yale and Linde as Temple's preferred forklift suppliers.
Cat national accounts manager Mark Graber said the open-ended arrangement meant Cat could become "a more significant partner" in the coming years.
"This is an excellent opportunity to expand on the long-standing relationship that was initially started by Cat dealer Wiese Planning & Engineering," he said.
Cat dealers Wiese and Mustang Industrial Equipment would benefit from the new business, though Cat refused to detail orders placed since the new arrangement took effect.
Temple-Inland is a diversified company running businesses in the forest products, corrugated packaging and financial services industries.
Cat senior account manager Mike Stefko said products to be supplied to Temple's forest products division included cushion-tyre forklifts for containerboard applications and mid-size pneumatic forklifts for lumber handling.