A Pegasus forklift

Forklift-mounted computer maker Glacier Computer has been included in Inc magazine's list of the 5,000 fastest-growing US private companies.

Inc 5000 is an extension of the magazine's annual Inc 500 list. The list was created to include smaller companies and "businesses too big to grow at the pace required to make the Inc 500".

Companies have to be privately held and independent US-based companies as of December 31, 2006. They also need to have had at least USD200,000 in revenue in 2003 and USD2 million in 2006. The list measures revenue growth from 2003 to 2006.

According to Inc, the Midwest region of the USA led the list with 1,046 of the fastest-growing companies, the West followed with 884, the Southeast had 872, the Northeast, 782, and the Mid-Atlantic region, 606 companies.

The construction category was the largest, with 561 of Inc's 5,000 companies in that category followed by manufacturing (515), IT services (466), business services (377) and advertising & IT (349).

Industries that reported the highest total revenue in 2006 are construction (USD27.1 billion), manufacturing (USD18.6 billion), health (USD13.1 billion), computers & electronics (USD12.7 billion) and financial services (USD11.8 billion).

Separately in Ohio, the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University presented heavy forklift manufacturer BPR/RICO Equipment with a Weatherhead 100 award.

The annual Weatherhead 100 award honours the 100 fastest-growing companies in northeast Ohio.

RICO spokesperson Danell Durica credits the company's latest product introduction for the growth that won the award.

"[The Pegasus series] broadened RICO's customer base by expanding existing lines offered - the QDC die/mould handlers, explosion proof series and various specialty materials handling trucks," he explains.

Introduced in 2003, the series of IC and electric counterbalanced forklifts, designed for mill duty, come in capacities ranging from 15,000lbs to 100,000lbs (6,803.9kg to 45,359.2kg).

RICO's expanded product line and orders triggered a USD3 million development project that increased its workspace to 160,000sqf (14,864.5sqm) and raised employee numbers by 33% since January 2005. This year, Medina County Economic Development Corp presented its Capital Investment Award to RICO in honour of the positive results of its capital investment.