NACCO Materials Handling Group Inc (NMHG) says it has added 401 workers and increased some shifts at North American plants in Greenville; Sulligent, Alabama; Berea, Kentucky; and Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.

NMHG is adding third shifts in certain production areas and starting second shifts in painting and select assembly lines in the Berea and Greenville plants. NMHG designs, engineers, manufactures, sells and services Yale and Hyster brand forklifts.

"We've been waiting for this day for quite some time," said Jonathan Dawley, NMHG vice president of marketing. "Thanks to great leadership, preparation and the hard work of our employees, we were able to weather this recession and position ourselves to respond to the economic rebound."

Dawley notes that NMHG launched eight new product lines "even during one of the worst recessions in history".

NMHG management believes the organisation is "in a solid position" to take advantage of the current recovery. "NMHG is well positioned financially and with product and personnel to capture opportunities as the market continues to strengthen," notes Colin Wilson, chief operating officer and president of NMHG Americas in Greenville.

NMHG employs about 4,500 people worldwide and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cleveland, Ohio-based NACCO Industries Inc.