An artist's impression of Clark's dealer support centre in France.

Clark Europe GmbH has opened its first dealer support centre in Lyon, France to support local dealers and customers.

"Despite the financial crisis, we will continue on the chosen path and invest for our dealers, our customers and, therefore, in our common future," says Clark Europe's managing director, Egon Strehl.

The wholly owned subsidiary of Clark Europe GmbH is located near the Lyon International Airport, the TGV rail system and road networks around the Lyon metropolitan area. The centre will provide technical and marketing support and customised modifications and repairs. Its area of service extends beyond France to French-speaking countries like Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, and the western part of Switzerland.

"We plan for the long term and realise our projects consistently step by step," Strehl explains. "The financial and economic crisis does not change this undertaking."

"Integral components of our long-term strategy are the establishing and strengthening of networks in the different core markets - the Lyon location is only a first milestone in this respect," he says. Additional dealer support centres are planned for Russia, Jordan, the Czech Republic and England in the next few years.

Clark is currently establishing a team of forklift specialists that includes sales personnel and technical engineers at the Lyon centre.

Strehl says the company considers hiring new employees - "a good investment into the future" as it positions itself for post-recession growth.

The company has been able to accommodate disturbances in the global markets relatively well so far "by intensive internal efforts and flexible adaptations, we have been able to avoid going into the red", Strehl says.