Valmar's VSM50 sideloader

UK sideloader manufacturer Valmar Sideloaders has moved to a new manufacturing facility at Cleckheaton, Leeds and expects to expand its workforce as its business grows.

Business development manager Clare Park tells Forkliftaction.com News that the previous facility was limited in its layout and overhead clearance. "This had a limiting effect on the throughput of new product build. The new facility has been laid out to accommodate static stage build production methods; in addition to this, the ability to cater for the production of machines up to and in excess of 20 T lift capacity."

While staff levels currently remain unchanged, additional staff could be required, Park says, "in all areas of the business as sales continue and production increases, including the areas of service and aftercare for products".

Valmar's previous facility in Batley, a 20-minute drive from Cleckheaton, was within a built-up area. The new facility is located beside a major road network and the company expects this to facilitate access for parts delivery and the transportation of customer machines.

Valmar was established in Scotland in 1992, distributing and maintaining forklifts and sideloaders. Managing director, Martin Valente was responsible for marketing the Kalmar Irion sideloader in Scotland and therefore the sideloader became a key product for the business.

In 1994, rapid growth led to the acquisition of Kalmar's business in Scotland, with Valmar becoming the distributor of Kalmar products in the region. Valmar decided to specialise in sideloader distribution and maintenance in the UK and acquired Kalmar UK's sideloader business in 1999. In 2000, Valmar agreed to become the exclusive distributor of the Jumbo sideloader, manufactured in Austria by Zeidler Gmbh.

Valmar decided to develop its own range of sideloaders with established UK manufacturer SSP; and in 2009 acquired the business, setting up a new company, Valmar Sideloaders Ltd, to launch the new product range into the market. It is Linde Material Handling's preferred sideloader supplier.