 Otto Wolter |
Fifty-year anniversary celebrations, including golf, dining and spectator events, are planned for employees and associates of Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp, Illinois Material Handling, Wolter Material Handling and Wolter Power Systems in coming months.
Otto Wolter, chief executive officer, started the business in 1962 as a two-man two-car garage operation.
The collective operations are now one of the USA's largest materials handling distributors, one of Wisconsin's largest privately held firms and the original member of holding company Wolter Group LLC.
Wolter Group has aerials and construction; fleet management; materials handling equipment; power systems; and energy management systems divisions. Affiliates deal in equipment leasing and parts distribution. The organisation serves more than 10,000 customers in Wisconsin, northern Illinois and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Brookfield-based Wisconsin Lift Truck accounts for about 90% of the group's sales with branches in De Pere, Madison, Janesville and Wausau, Wisconsin.
To celebrate the half-century milestone, the company will hold golf outings, employee appreciation dinners and outings to Milwaukee Brewers' baseball games. Wisconsin's Governor Scott Walker has proclaimed 2 March as Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp Day in the state.
Wolter's commitment to excellence and innovation, and a willingness to take risks spur operations.
"To be successful, you must have a passion for your job and for this business," says Wolter, 73. "I have never stopped having that passion. At the end of each day, you must ask yourself, 'what did I do better today than I did yesterday, and what will I do better tomorrow?'"
President Jerry Weidmann says: "Wisconsin Lift Truck Corp thrives because of the belief Otto instilled in our culture - that customer service is the supreme competitive advantage. We go beyond business as usual for our customers by continually seeking resources to be the best."
The Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA), of Vernon Hills, Illinois, designated Wisconsin Lift Truck with 'most valuable partner' status in 2011. It recognises the company's commitment to business excellence, professionalism and good stewardship. Now the association's president-elect, Weidmann is slated to become MHEDA president from 1 January.
In 2011 and 2010, materials handling product manufacturer Steel King Industries Inc, of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, recognised the company as a most valuable distributor, million-dollar distributor and top-10 dealer.
The Houston, Texas, joint venture Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc has honored the company as a Cat lift truck dealer of excellence and a star customer service dealer award recipient for five consecutive years.
Over the years, Wisconsin Lift Truck has acquired other material handling companies, including Witco Systems Inc, a 61-year-old full-service materials handling distributor; the Wisconsin operations of Material Handling Services; Fiorenza Material Handling; and Fiorenza Northwest Material Handling.
The operations provide customers with multiple forklift and materials handling equipment brands, various storage and industrial equipment, in-shop or on-the-road service, parts and rentals.
Brands include, alphabetically, Aisle-Master, Big Joe, Blue Giant, Caterpillar Lift Truck, Combilift, Cushman, Daifuku, Doosan, EnerSys, E-Z-Go, Gehl, Generac Power Systems, Genie, Hänel, Hytsu, Hyundai, Jarvis Webb, JLG, Jungheinrich, Komatsu, Lift King, Linde Material Handling, Lowry Lift, Mitsubishi Forklift, Motrec, Noble Construction, Perkins, Power Boss, Rico, Rol-Lift, Royal Tractor, Schaeff, Sellick, Skyjack, Steel King Industries, Storage Battery Systems, Taylor Machine Works, Trackmobile, TVH, United Tractor, Mariotti, Waldon and Yanmar.
The company's mission statement is "to enable our customers' success through value-added solutions, supported by superior service and quality products professionally delivered with a sense of urgency".
Wolter Group employs more than 325 staff whose eaverage tenure of 16 years helps fulfill the mission's requirements.
Among other Wolter Group companies, Wolter Power Systems specialises in new industrial engines and generator sales, service and parts and energy systems. Wolter Material Handling offers new and used sales, parts, service and forklift and construction equipment rentals in western Wisconsin. Contractor Equipment Services focuses on new and used sales, service, parts and rentals of construction and aerial equipment, sweepers and scrubbers. Illinois Material Handling is a full-service materials handling distributor in Rockford, Illinois. Fleet Services provides ways to improve fleet performance and reduce materials handling costs.