David Turner and Peter Jones

Briggs had a large display with its partners, Hyster and Yale, focusing on robotics, warehousing and logistics, but also showed some of its own safety features and a range of non-materials handling equipment.

Marketing manager David Turner said the key message was that buyers not only get great products from known manufacturers, but also benefit from Briggs' support, in-house financing and a custom fleet management portal.

The major trends in the UK market at the moment, according to managing director Peter Jones, are automation and electrification.

"There is a lot more robotic activity at this show than in previous ones," he said, although he anticipates that it will be a few more years before the technology becomes mainstream.

On the electrification front, Turner noted the significance of JCB's recent electric tele-truck. "We're seeing customers moving fleets of trucks to electric from LPG or diesel. (In addition), lithium-ion started as a fad, became a puzzle and is now widely accepted and is just rolling out. It's something that customers talk about often," he said.

Briggs has made six acquisitions this year and is looking to diversify way beyond its materials handling origins.