Materials handling group given a lift by Irish acquisition

Hyster

Materials handling group, Briggs Equipment, has expanded its European operations with the acquisition of a fork lift business in Ireland.

The Cannock-based group said the acquisition of Dublin’s Irish Lift Trucks (ILT), was part of its five-year growth plan.

ILT, part of the OHM Group, is an established dealer of the Hyster range of materials handling equipment serving the Republic of Ireland.

Briggs said the acquisition offered major opportunities for both firms to build their presence in the Irish market.

It said that being part of a larger Hyster dealer would allow ILT to grow and expand its offering more quickly than on a standalone basis.

Peter Jones, managing director of Briggs Equipment, said: “We are delighted to be able to make today’s announcement. The market that Irish Lift Trucks serves so well is an ideal new market for the proven and successful Briggs Equipment proposition. The versatility of our offering means we have tremendous scope to build on existing relationships and develop new ones.”

Declan McCourt, chief executive of OHM Group, said, “This marks the beginning of the next exciting phase in the development of Irish Lift Trucks. Briggs’ expertise in bringing added value, beyond the supply of OEM equipment, means our current customers and many new companies can benefit from a single source of supply for their industrial machinery.

“This move makes perfect sense for both businesses and the marketplace in general. It also allows OHM Group to streamline our operations and dedicate our focus on target areas of expansion in our Car, Truck and Power Solutions Divisions.”

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