Food & Drink Process & Packaging Issue 18 2018 | Página 19

Impact Handling acquires Bendigo Mitchell to consolidate midlands coverage Impact Handling continues to strengthen its UK operation with the acquisition of Midlands-based Fork Lift Truck Specialist Bendigo Mitchell. The acquisition brings the total number of wholly owned Impact branches across the UK to twelve, further supported by its seven dedicated dealer sites and a workforce of over 200 mobile technicians. Bendigo Mitchell will now offer the full Impact premium brand product portfolio, led by the acclaimed Cat Lift Trucks range of material handling and warehouse equipment. “The coming together of the businesses will result in a wider range of product choice, enhanced service support and greater value for Bendigo Mitchell’s customers as well as for other lift truck users across the midlands”, said outgoing Bendigo Mitchell Managing Director Duncan Nealon. He went on to say, “The two businesses really do represent the perfect fit, with a shared belief in the value of truly personal service, delivered at a local level, and of the importance of ensuring customers have the right machines for their specific applications – so the synergies were obvious”. Impact is the sole UK and Ireland distributor for Cat Lift Trucks and maintains over 10,000 customer machines across the UK. Impact also exclusively distributes Konecranes lift trucks, Carer heavy duty electric fork Lifts, Rocla automated guided vehicles and Spijkstaal electric vehicles in the UK, as well as being an official dealer for a range of specialist the needs of lift truck users in the area, no equipment brands. matter how large or small their fleet.” Terry Kendrew, Managing Director of Alongside Impact’s extensive new product Impact Handling commented, “We are inventory, Bendigo Mitchell will also excited to welcome Bendigo Mitchell into have access to Impact’s in-house flexible the Impact family and look forward to financing, nationwide short term hire building on their excellence in customer fleet and it’s factory approved refurbished service, now with the full backing of our equipment stock. nationwide support network, extensive product inventory and OEM parts supply.” He went on to say, “Strategically for Impact this consolidates our capability in the Midlands region and means we are now better placed than ever to support Impact is a subsidiary of South African based enX Group, which holds interests in the distribution of industrial equipment, materials handling, commercial and public service vehicles. FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk 19