The forklift division of Ring Power Corp has added representation of the Clark Material Handling Co line in three northern and central Florida regions covering 37 counties.

"For Clark, Ring represents a major enhancement and improvement in our distribution capabilities in Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville," says Scott Johnson, director of dealer services with Clark in Lexington, Kentucky. "Ring Power holds a leadership position in the materials handling industry."

The appointment of Ring Power as an authorised Clark forklift distributor in the three Florida markets came into effect on 10 February.

While the Ring lift trucks division has nine locations throughout Florida, the Clark arrangement will focus on three large dealerships with urban concentrations.

In addition to Clark, the division in various locations represents Caterpillar, Mitsubishi, Linde, Kalmar, Princeton, Navigator, Noble, Landoll Bendi and Cascade product lines. Ring covers 57 Florida counties for Mitsubishi and 44 Florida counties for Caterpillar.

The Jacksonville-based forklift division is one of seven business units within Ring Power, which has corporate headquarters in St Augustine, Florida. For its multiple product lines, the company's sales locations include 20 in Florida and nine others in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Texas and California. LC Ringhaver founded the business as a Caterpillar engine-only dealer in 1961 and became a full-line Caterpillar dealer in 1962.

Clarklift of Florida LLC previously represented the Clark brand in Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville but is no longer an authorised dealer and must cease using Clark trademarks in day-to-day business activities. A related business, Absolute Storage Products LLC in Orlando, offers to sell the Clarklift of Florida domain name.

Through the new representation, "Ring takes our coverage, sales and service capabilities to a whole different level", Johnson notes. "As we have demonstrated in other areas of the country, we were able to move swiftly and definitively in appointing Ring Power as an authorised Clark dealer."

Farther south in the state, W.E. Johnson Equipment Co represents Clark in 17 Florida counties through facilities in Miami, Naples, Fort Myers and West Palm Beach.