TMHU takes on ProLift

News Story
- 15 Mar 2007 ( #301 ) - IRVINE, CA, United States
2 min read
Prolift is based in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Prolift is based in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Toyota Material Handling USA Inc (TMHU) has bought one of its award-winning forklift dealerships to facilitate its succession planning.

TMHU said in a statement that ProLift Industrial Equipment Co LLC had one of the most extensive track records of success of all Toyota dealerships. Prolift is based in Louisville, Kentucky, and has branches in Evansville and Indianapolis, Indiana; Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio; Lexington, Kentucky; and Elkins, West Virginia. ProLift has won Toyota's President's Award and its predecessor, the Quality Dealer Award, 14 times since 1990.

Asked if ProLift had approached TMHU for assistance with succession planning, TMHU said in a statement to Forkliftaction.com News:
"Toyota encourages its dealers to plan appropriately for succession and, in areas where that isn't possible, we attempt to identify existing or new dealers to successfully represent the Toyota brand.

"After all other avenues have been exhausted, Toyota will consider purchasing a dealership to ensure Toyota's continued strong representation and support to customers."

Bill Skinner
Bill Skinner
ProLift Industrial Equipment president Bill Skinner said:
"The transition will be seamless and our customers will see business operating as usual."

The new company, Toyota Material Handling Midwest Inc, will do business at ProLift Industrial Equipment's facilities, with no change in staff or support.

Toyota has 69 authorised dealers covering 188 locations in the US.

The acquisition price was not disclosed.

Brief history of ProLift Industrial Equipment:
1978 Bill Skinner establishes business renting surplus forklifts, relying on Dixie Warehouse & Cartage Co for financial backing and equipment to rent.

1980 ProLift appointed dealer for Allis-Chalmers and Taylor Machine Works.

1983 ProLift becomes Toyota dealer.

1998 Bill Skinner and five minority owners, Bob Ritz, Anne Ewing, Dave Graffy, Gary Stephan and Ron Kinslow, grow the company to more than USD50 million in annual revenue with six locations in three states and 220 associates.

1999 Bill Skinner buys majority ownership in ProLift from Dixie Warehouse, which bankrolled the dealership in 1978.

2007 TMHU buys ProLift. ProLift has grown to seven locations in four states with 335 associates. Revenues have nearly doubled.
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