EAST MEETS WEST IN CRAIGAVON

A delegation of over 70 materials handling dealer representatives from Russia attended a company and product overview in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, the manufacturing location of the Yale range of counterbalance fork lift trucks.

The visit was organised for sales managers and independent dealers of Universal Spetstechnica LLC (UST) who recently signed an agreement to become the Exclusive Dealer for Yale counterbalance fork lift trucks and warehouse equipment in the Russian Federation.

The largest forklift truck distributor in the Russian Federation, UST has a distribution channel of over 50 wholly owned and independent sales and service points in all eight of the Federal Districts making it the most comprehensive distribution channel of any materials handling organisation in the Russian Federation.

Throughout the four day event the 70 delegates took part in an overview of the complete Yale product range and were briefed on the product features and customer benefits of each product series. The delegates also took advantage of the opportunity to undertake an extensive factory tour of the company’s counterbalance forklift truck manufacturing facility.

Werner Meier-Ansari, the Yale area business director for Central and Eastern Europe said: “The purpose of the visit to Craigavon was to provide our new dealer colleagues with the opportunity to see first-hand the manufacturing facility in Craigavon and to provide them with an overview of the Yale product range and the features that can benefit owners and operators of Yale equipment in Russia.

It was also an opportunity to provide them with an insight into the support they will receive to enable them to provide their customers with the best materials handling solution to their application requirements.”

PRODUCT FAMILIARISATION BRIEFING HELD FOR UK DEALER

Following the announcement of Yale’s intention to appoint Briggs Equipment UK Ltd as its exclusive distributor in the UK, the company’s sales representatives visited the Yale counterbalance production facility in Craigavon earlier this month for product familiarisation.

Over 70 delegates took part in an overview of the complete Yale product range and were briefed on the features and customer benefits of each product series.

The three day event covered sessions on the Company Presentation, History and Values, Yale product range and the Multi-media Sales Tool (MMST). A ride and drive session in nearby Silverwood gave the Briggs delegates an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the latest electric counterbalance and Veracitor VX forklifts trucks as well as Yale’s highly productive warehouse equipment.

The Yale area business director for Northern Europe, Dave Bunting said: The visit was important in bringing the Briggs Equipment Sales team up to speed with the Yale product range as quickly as possible. The upturn in the UK market provided a great opportunity for Yale and newly appointed Briggs Equipment and this overview provided the sales team with the knowledge they needed to make an immediate impact in the marketplace”.

Major Yale Dealer Appointment in Russia

Press Release
August 2010 – A0124


Major Yale Dealer appointment in Russia

Yale Europe Materials Handling has signed an agreement with the Russian Federation’s largest forklift truck distributor creating the most comprehensive distribution channel of any materials handling manufacturer in the country.

Universal Spetstechnica LLC (UST) operates two main branches and a network of 56 independently owned and operated sub dealerships with a presence in all eight of the Russian Federation’s Federal Districts. The company has a leading market position and offers the potential to increase total sales of Yale forklift trucks in the Russian market substantially.

The introduction of UST into Yale’s key dealer programme will be marked with a visit to the company’s Craigavon facility where 50 dealer representatives will see first-hand the manufacture of Yale’s new VL series of energy efficient and highly productive electric forklift trucks.

Mr. Ralf Mock, Managing Director, NACCO Materials Handing Group EMEA, says the Russian market represents one of the most promising areas of growth for Yale in the Europe, Middle East and Africa territories.

Mr. Mock explains: “Through the agreement with UST, Yale is establishing itself as the leading materials handling supplier in Russia by offering a full range of Class 1, 2, 3 and 5 products through an established network of regional dealers across the country.

“With an excellent reputation for high standards of customer service, UST will bring the level of knowledge and expertise we have been searching for to grow our operation in Russia. Their appointment will increase Yale’s presence in the Russian lift truck market and we look forward to joining forces with Mr. Bunetskul and his team at Universal Spetstechnica LLC to increase our business in Russia” concludes Mr. Mock.

Universal Spetstechnica LLC has taken the strategic decision to work with Yale to realise its future growth and business development plans.

Mr. Andrey Bunetskal, Dealer Principal at UST, comments: “The Russian market is becoming more sophisticated with customers demanding more technologically advanced materials handling products and materials handling solutions, particularly in the electric counterbalance and warehouse equipment categories. Yale’s full product offering allows UST to provide a comprehensive range of products to customers operating within an increasingly diverse range of materials handling applications.”

He adds: “Yale also offers the added benefit of the best short term rental, financing packages, after-sales service and parts support. Yale has more than met our criteria as a leading forklift truck manufacturer and we are delighted to be appointed as the exclusive Dealer for the Russian Federation.”

The UST dealer network will offer the full range of Class 1 electric counterbalance and Class 5 internal combustion engine counterbalance trucks as well as Class 2 and Class 3 warehouse equipment from Yale’s materials handling portfolio. These include pallet trucks, order pickers, stacker trucks, reach trucks, pedestrian counterbalanced equipment and turret trucks within the warehouse range as well as the full range of electric, LPG and diesel counterbalance forklift trucks with capacities ranging from 1 to 16 tonnes.

Manufacturing Boost

The increased demand to satisfy the Russian market will improve the position of the company’s European manufacturing facilities in Craigavon, Masate and Nijmegen. Steve Ridgway, Yale brand manager explains: “The additional orders through the UST agreement will provide enhanced output and richer volumes in our Class 1, 2, 3 and 5 segments through our European factories. We welcome this opportunity to strengthen our manufacturing position and increase our throughput.”

Russia is already home to a large number of multi-national companies and is well placed to exploit future technologies as industries expand and require the best logistics and materials handling solutions available as the market recovers. Yale Europe will be strategically positioned to take advantage of the market developments in Russia, working closely with the vastly experienced team at Universal Spetstechnica LLC.

For further details of Yale’s extensive key dealer network, visit www.yale-forklifts.eu.

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