Still has appointed Finnish company Konekesko Oy as its exclusive distributor in the Baltics.

Hamburg-based Still and Finnish company Konekesko Oy are expanding their sales activities with the appointment of the latter as Still's exclusive distributor in the Baltics.

Konekesko is an importer of materials handling goods focusing on municipal vehicles and the construction and farming sectors, while Still manufactures forklifts. Both companies have been operating in Finland since early 2010.

"We are expecting substantial growth for forklifts and warehouse equipment and want to position ourselves on the market for this so we can offer our customers complete intralogistics solutions," says Frank Schliesser, Still's director of dealer organisation.

Schliesser explains that the companies' corporate philosophies match well as both attach importance to quality products and fast on-site service. "There will only be one contact partner from both sides for daily business handling. Konekesko will have a common parts stock and a stock of trucks in Finland. This will lead to a high availability of parts and short delivery times in the Baltics."

Aatos Kivelä, Konekesko's president, says the extension of the companies' joint activities unite the companies' strengths. "We have been knowledgeable of the Baltic market for years and Still supplies our customers with the latest technologies."

Environmental factors play a role in the new partnership. Konekesko says it wants to take the lead in Still's energy-saving programs and looks up to Still's leadership in the development of hybrid technology for counterbalance forklifts.

"As EU members, the Baltic states are committed to carbon dioxide emission reductions. They also have to import oil and gas and are therefore forced to focus on low-fuel consumption products," Schliesser explains.

"The carbon footprint discussion is widening in the EU countries and will not stop at the border of the Baltics," he says.