Bublitz Material Handling (BMH), Gammon Equipment Co Inc and Deep South Equipment Co have added representation of the Hyster brand in certain markets in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma, and, in the same territories, GW Van Keppel Co went with the Nissan brand.
Nacco Materials Handling Group Inc (NMHG) of Greenville, North Carolina made the Hyster appointments, effective from 1 October. NMHG is moving toward selective geographic dealership consolidations in North America for its Hyster and Yale brands.
Previously, Kansas City, Kansas-based Van Keppel had represented Hyster through locations in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Springfield, Missouri.
Effective from 3 October, Nissan Forklift Corp North America of Marengo, Illinois appointed Van Keppel as its representative in those locations and markets.
"We are thrilled to have the Nissan line," says Glenn Henry, general manager of the materials handling division for Kansas City, Kansas-based Van Keppel.
The Van Keppel dealership has multiple locations with materials handling sales, service and parts functions in Kansas City, Kansas; Springfield and St Joseph, Missouri; and Tulsa and Oklahoma City. In addition to materials handling equipment, Van Keppel deals with market segments involving construction equipment, quarry supply, aggregate crushing and screening and trench safety.
Bublitz Material HandlingLongtime Yale dealer Bublitz adds distribution of Hyster equipment in 39 counties in Missouri and nine counties in Kansas.
BMH aims to address cost reduction and productivity concerns for more plants and warehouses through providing management of customer forklift fleets.
BMH President Duncan Murphy stresses Hyster's motto, Strong Partners-Tough Trucks, saying he looks forward to demonstrating those qualities to end-users.
BMH houses both the Yale and Hyster brands in its 33,000 sqft (2,970 sqm) facility on a fenced-in 100,000 sqft (9,000 sqm) site in North Kansas City, Missouri. "We are currently at 43 (employees) with 22 technicians," Murphy notes. "We have hired 11 new people in 2010."
The Bublitz organisation has distributed equipment since 1927 and has been the exclusive distributor of Yale projects in its territory since 1954.
Effective 1 January, Murphy and his partners at Riekes Equipment Co of Omaha, Nebraska joined with Jeff Bublitz to purchase operational assets of Bublitz Machinery Co and form BMH
(Forkliftaction.com News #461). Murphy is BMH president. Jeff Bublitz is BMH chief executive officer of operations and represents the third generation of his family in the business. Pete Womack is BMH chief operating officer for sales and marketing.
Gammon Equipment Co IncYale dealer Gammon Equipment of Springfield, Missouri adds Hyster representation in two of its six separate locations and plans to establish a seventh site.
"We are looking to add a place in Joplin, Missouri," says Greg Gammon, president of the family-owned and -operated business. "We are looking at buildings." A Joplin branch would represent both the Yale and Hyster brands. Currently, the Springfield location serves the Joplin market.
Gammon Equipment added Hyster in its Springfield and Jefferson City, Missouri locations. Gammon Equipment's Hyster representation covers the south west and portions of central Missouri and nine counties in Kansas.
"We will have at least one Hyster sales person," Gammon says. Currently, the company has about 100 employees.
Gammon Equipment began representing Yale in 1963 and carries Yale equipment in all of its locations including Little Rock, Arkansas and St Louis, Fort Smith and Springdale, Missouri in addition to Springfield and Jefferson City.
Separately, Gammon interests own Power-Serv Inc of North Kansas City, Kansas, a Trackmobile railcar mover dealership operating in all or a portion of 12 states in the central and north west regions of the US. Gammon acquired the Trackmobile dealership in 1998.
Deep South Equipment CoDeep South Equipment adds Hyster representation in the state of Oklahoma.
"We are in the process of securing two locations in Oklahoma City and Tulsa" through signing leases on facilities, the company says. "We already provide (Hyster) support in east Texas, all of Louisiana and most of Mississippi."
Those services are located in Tyler, Texas; New Orleans, Shreveport and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Pearl, Mississippi.
Effective 15 February, NMHG appointed Deep South as the Yale dealer in a 45-county territory covering the northern portion of Louisiana and portions of east Texas.
(Forkliftaction.com News #451). Regarding the Yale addition, Deep South says, "As the largest lift truck dealer in our trade area, our size and strength provide the flexibility required for efficient and cost-effective parts, service and new and used sales." Previously, H&E Equipment Services Inc of Baton Rouge represented that Yale territory.
Deep South Equipment says it derives more than 90% of revenues from Hyster sales, rentals, service and parts.
In addition to forklifts, Deep South represents Kärcher-Cuda power washers and Minuteman PowerBoss sweepers and scrubbers.