Briggs Equipment is to become sole national distributor for Yale Materials Handling, replacing its existing Caterpillar Lift Truck distributorship.
As part of the pending agreement, NACCO Materials Handling Group intends to sell the Yale UK business to Briggs Equipment UK.
A spokesperson for Briggs said that there would be a phased transition over the next three or four months and Briggs would continue to support existing Cat customers through its Truckcare service.
Briggs is part of the Sammons Enterprises equipment distribution division, and sister companies Briggs Equipment Mexico and Briggs Equipment US are already major distributors of Yale Materials Handling products.
Briggs chief executive Richard Close said: “Having grown the Briggs Equipment brand into a UK success story, it is only right and proper, that we now consider strategically aligning ourselves with the other members of the Sammons equipment distribution division by becoming the distributor of Yale Materials Handling in Great Britain.
“In these difficult times, it is now particularly necessary for our organisation to review our growth strategy. We are confident that all our customers will experience a totally seamless and smooth transition throughout this period, as our ultimate objective is to benefit our customers both now and in the future,” said Close.
Yale Europe said it would continue to support all of its customers throughout any period of change. “It is expected that Forkway Limited and Lloyd Limited will continue their valuable contribution to the success of Yale and the satisfaction of their customers, working closely together with Briggs Equipment UK.”
* Sammons Enterprises bought the materials handling division of Finning (UK), which distributed Caterpillar equipment, in September 2006 merging it into Briggs Equipment UK.
