The Lift King LK43K 43,000lb-capacity forklift.

Lift King Industries, of Woodbridge, Ontario, has bought the manufacturing rights of Lowry Industrial Lift Trucks Ltd, of Georgetown, Ontario, for an undisclosed sum.

Lowry entered into receivership under Canadian laws this year. Lift King was one of Lowry's biggest creditors (Forkliftaction.com News #275).

Lift King president Mark Aldrovandi said the decision to buy the Lowry rights was made because it provided Lift King an "established entrance" into the heavy capacity, cushion-tyred forklift market.

"Our partnership with Lowry allows us to commit considerable manufacturing capacity and expertise, our proven Pro E engineering capability and our financial stability, to support and aggressively promote the Lowry line," Aldrovandi said.

"The manufacturing synergies perfectly complemented Lift King's established systems."

Pro E engineering was an engineering program that helped engineers design "quality" forklifts with "longer component life", Aldrovandi said. The program allowed three-dimensional modelling of forklift parts and critical stress points could go through "finite element analysis".

Lift King would introduce a new Lowry cushion-tyred model in the 50,000lb (22,680kg) to 60,000lb (27,216kg) load capacity range in 2007.

"The industrial market will see a sustained effort by Lift King to support and grow Lowry models together with the introduction of new Lift King dual-tyred pneumatic 20,000lb (9,072kg) to 40,000lb (18,144kg) capacity models for the industrial market," Aldrovandi said.

Lift King was established in 1968 by Aldrovandi's father, Louis Aldrovandi. It manufactures materials handling equipment for commercial and military markets, including two and four-wheel drive, pneumatic-tyred, rough-terrain forklifts up to 60,000lbs capacity. It has more than 150 employees.