Hilo Materials Handling Group is the new identity for a recent forklift-brand consolidation within Nacco Materials Handling Group Inc (NMHG).

Prior to the name change, Hilo-Yale Industrial Trucks Inc acquired Hyster dealer Viccaro Equipment Corp. Terms were not disclosed.

Both operations are located in Hauppauge with their sites being 3.4 miles (5.4 km) apart. The 16 March acquisition was announced on 29 March.

Frank Viccaro, former owner of Viccaro Equipment, has taken a non-ownership staff position within the new company.  

"Together, we are uniquely positioned to offer our customers the most choices and solutions in warehousing and material handling equipment," says Steven LoPiccolo, Hilo president, in a message to customers. "As an authorized distributor and service provider of leading manufacturers such as Yale, Hyster, Kelly, Serco, Rytec and TKO, we now offer you a wider range of lift truck, dock and door products to meet your application preferences."

Hilo has more than 20 years of experience serving Long Island’s Nassau and Suffolk counties. Hilo takes over Viccaro’s territories, assets, liabilities and the majority of personnel. The existing Viccaro facility will be rebranded with the Hilo name and used for storage purposes only.

The joint staffing of the two companies allows Hilo to provide customers with more than 50 years of sales, service and parts expertise, LoPiccolo notes.

On the effective date for the transaction, Viccaro employed 38 and Hilo 41 staff. On 13 April, the new company has 72 employees.

The Hilo organisation also does business as Hilo Maintenance Systems Inc.

NMHG employs about 5,000 people worldwide and is a wholly owned subsidiary of publicly traded Nacco Industries Inc.