Rolf Slobotzky

Veteran forklift executive Rolf Slobotzky, a pioneer in the materials handling industry in Latin America, has passed away at the age of 91.

Long-time colleague Carlos Merlo,director general of Raymond Corp in Mexico, recalls that his friend and mentor "always kept an outstanding positive attitude in learning and teaching about the industry, not to mention being an avid traveller to find new experiences and knowledge".

Slobotzky started his career in Mexico in the late 1940s, promoting trucks branded Automatic. He went on to become director of sales for the Allis Chalmers forklift line at AC Mexicana and created a dealer network from Guatemala to Argentina and Chile.

Merlo recalls that Slobotzky's passion for the industry led him to create a company, Udimac, which launched the Mitsubishi forklift brand in the Mexican market.

"In his late 60s, again his entrepreneurial spirit led him to create and develop a company to promote generic parts and accessories for forklifts," Merlo adds.

Slobotzky also served as president of the Mexican Association of Machinery Dealers.

"His way of conducting business, human relationships, humour and enthusiasm made him a greatly respected icon and a referral in the industry," says Merlo. "Surely all of us who were fortunate to know him and work for him will miss him."

Forkliftaction News readers will recall Slobotzky's popular and long-running "South of the Border" column, in which he chronicled developments in the industry in Latin America.

Forkliftaction sales manager Rodger Lamb met Rolf (or Rodolfo, as he called him) on a number of occasions and notes that "as late as June 2015, he was still helping me to learn and be introduced to different people in Latin America".

"I remember him as a larger-than-life person, a wonderful character in the industry, with a great cheerfulness and sense of humour," says Lamb.

All at Forkliftaction express their condolences to Rolf Slobotzky's family and friends.