Briggs takes over Yale forklift truck distributorship in UK

Currently sole UK distributor for Caterpillar trucks, Briggs is withdrawing from that agreement and has acquired Yale Material Handling, the UK dealer business for the Yale brand of trucks, which are manufactured by Nacco Material Handling. The announcement concludes two years of negotiation. No figures have yet been released, but it's clear that this is a strategic move for Briggs – it believes the Yale brand will give it more leverage in the highly competitive UK forklift market. Cannock-based Briggs is part of US group Sammons Enterprises and its sister companies in the US and Mexico are both already distributors for Yale trucks. Briggs Equipment UK's chief exec Richard Close (pictured) says: ""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." Briggs UK will continue to service Caterpillar trucks for its customers – it is already a multi-brand service provider. "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," adds Close.