V Mariotti Company, of Torino, Italy, has appointed MH Distribution Company, of La Vista, Nebraska, USA, to supply the Mariotti forklift line to dealers in its leading market.

Mariotti appointed Smit-Gramley Ltd as distributor in the eastern US and Canada in January 2006.

Mariotti expects the new appointment to significantly expand its forklift distribution through the rest of the USA, Canada and Mexico.

The Mariotti forklifts, with widths as narrow as 31 inches (0.787 metres) and heights as low as 75 inches (1.905 metres), include the ME series model 4, which Mariotti claims is the world's smallest sit-down forklift. Mariotti's Mycros and ME series of electric sit-down forklifts are designed to lift up to 2,600lbs (1,179.3kg) in limited space applications. They can drive through a standard door opening and manoeuvre in elevators.

MH Distribution operations manager Barry Cahoon said Mariotti produced 500 to 600 forklifts a year. Half that production volume was targeted to be sold in the US.

MH Distribution oversees the dealer network for the western US and Mexico for distribution of Mariotti product lines and all of North America for Mariotti parts.

Mariotti was established in 1920 by Vasco Mariotti to provide materials handing equipment to the Italian market.