Ralf Mock and Martyn Fletcher sign the Yale Dealer Agreement, watched by David Bunting at Yale Europe's office in Fleet.

After three decades, Forkway Group has ended its relationship with Nissan and joined forces with a new preferred partner so it can access a complete range of products from one source.

Forkway has signed a distribution agreement with Yale Europe in the UK to create a partnership intent on increasing sales and the distribution network for both companies.

Martyn Fletcher, managing director of Forkway, says the partnership with Yale satisfies a long felt desire.

"As a UK company employing around 80 people, we will have the ability to supply a European manufactured product."

Fletcher says Forkway did a through evaluation of the market before selecting Yale as its preferred partner.

"We selected Yale to replace Nissan, who we have represented for 29 years. This was a not a decision that was taken lightly, but with Yale being a truly global brand, we are moving into the top league of forklift suppliers with a complete range from one manufacturer."

The agreement gives Forkway the ability to improve sales, marketing, and after sales relationships with its manufacturer and Yale Europe the opportunity to extend its distribution network.

David Bunting, area business director for Yale Europe, says working with local, entrepreneurial businesses has been Yale's strategy for some time.

"However, the opportunity to work with a long established service provider of the size and stature of Forkway does not come along very often in the UK," he says. "This partnership gives us the ability to bring a leading global brand even closer to more customers."

Fletcher says Forkway's personalised service ethos will be enhanced through the partnership with Yale.

"Personalised service comes from having long serving responsible individuals who know their customers' needs and work hard to meet them."

"With Yale and the almost endless variations within the Yale range, we are not obliged to adopt a one truck fits all approach or compromise on specifications in order to sell an item bought for stock."