Forklift of Des Moines and Hodge Co have added representation of the Nissan brand in certain Iowa markets, succeeding Liftruck Service Co Inc.
Nissan Forklift Corp North America of Marengo appointed the two dealerships effective from 1 September.
Outgoing representative Liftruck Service is based in Davenport, has branches in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines and had been a Nissan dealer for 32 years, says Jim Edlemon, general manager.
Vern and Mary Gayman founded Liftruck Service in 1959. Mrs Gayman and two daughters own a majority of the shares. The business represents the TCM brand in central and eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
Elsewhere, Nissan added several previously disclosed Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma locations of Kansas City, Kansas-based GW Van Keppel Co, effective 3 October
(Forkliftaction.com News #486).
Earlier in 2010, Nissan added Taylor Northeast Inc of Morgantown, Pennsylvania on 1 August
(Forkliftaction.com News #482) and Select Equipment Inc of Santa Ana, California on 1 April
(Forkliftaction.com News #462).
Parent company Nissan Motor Co Ltd of Yokohama, Japan spun off its industrial machinery division in establishing Nissan Forklift Co Ltd on 1 October. The change aims to strengthen the business's autonomy and create a management system to position the forklift operations for growth globally.
Forklift of Des MoinesThe dealership in Des Moines, Iowa serves 43 counties in central Iowa and opted to add Nissan because of the "product quality and brand," says Rick Radcliff, president of Clarklift of Des Moines Inc, doing business as Forklift of Des Moines.
The dealership began representing the Clark line in 1954, Sellick equipment in 1991 and Doosan forklifts in 1994 and continues with Clark and Sellick in its state capital location. "Doosan will phase out of the Des Moines location," notes Radcliff, whose family has owned and operated the business since 1976.
On 29 October, the dealership held an open house as a customer appreciation gesture and recognition of the new Nissan relationship in central Iowa.
The company's second location ― Clarklift West in Omaha, Nebraska ― serves the Nebraska and western Iowa markets but will not represent the Nissan product line.
Together, the two sites employ 34 staff, including 15 technicians.
Hodge CoThe dealership has facilities in Dubuque and Bettendorf, Iowa and now represents Nissan in 30 counties in eastern Iowa, 10 counties in north western Illinois and four counties in south western Wisconsin.
"We are rebounding a little bit," says Andy Daughetee, vice president with Hodge's materials handling unit, which deals with forklift sales and services. "Quoting activity is up (and customers are) buying out of necessity. Over a two-year period, our parts and service business has increased, and our sales have gone down 40%."
The materials handling unit employs 31, including 17 technicians, and began representing the Linde brand in 1983 and the Sellick line in 2000.
Other Hodge Co operations include facilities provider Walter Development LLC, services supplier TM Logistics and the records management Infosafe unit. Walter J Hodge established the business in Dubuque in 1958, initially as Hodge Transit Warehouse Co.