Leica Geosystems announces vice president of construction

Valerie Richardson has been appointed as vice president of construction for Leica Geosystems North America.

Effective immediately, Richardson will be responsible for sales, channel management, service, support, and product marketing for all products and systems designed for the construction and industry segments, including construction and paving machine control; construction mid-range instruments; exterior construction lasers and levels; and the interior laser products. Richardson reports directly to Bob Williams, president of Leica Geosystems, Inc., Americas region.

The new role will also bring Richardson in close collaboration with the newly formed Hexagon Machine Control and the Precision Tools Divisions worldwide, as well as the Geosystems Division where she will support sales of mid-range instruments to the construction segment.

A two-year veteran of Leica Geosystems, Richardson was previously vice president of strategic marketing and customer support, a position she had held since February 2005. Prior to joining Leica Geosystems, Richardson served in various marketing, sales and channel development roles at Invensys plc and Siemens Energy & Automation. She has lived and worked abroad, and holds an MBA in finance from North Central College, as well as an MA in industrial/organizational psychology and a BA in journalism from Drake University.

“Valerie is an effective leader and delivers quality results,” Williams said. “With her diverse business experience and skills in many areas related to increasing customer- focus, I am confident that she will unify her team to achieve our business goals for the construction and industry markets while continuing to improve customer satisfaction levels.”

Edward W. Daniel opens new distribution center

Edward W. Daniel announced the opening of its new distribution center, which will service the southeastern region. The Charlotte, NC, facility, in conjunction with Eastgate Global Logistics, will distribute the company’s“Diamond D” quality hardware products throughout the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and Alabama.

The 25,000-square-foot distribution center has operations to house a comprehensive product line and offer next-day delivery within a 250 mile radius. The distribution center has full-time customer service and shipping personnel. Will-call pick up services and inventory stocking programs are also available.

Haulotte opens factory in Spain

On March 30, Pierre Saubot, chairman of Haulotte Group, and Alexandre Saubot, CEO of Haulotte Group, welcomed Miguel Angel Revilla, president of Cantabria, and Dolores Gorostiaga, vice president and institutional relations counselor and Europeanmatters, to the inauguration of the Group’s new Spain facility.

The factor will employ 300 people in the manufacturing unit and 1,000 employees through its suppliers.

JLG adds dealers to network

JLG Industries, Inc. has appointed Tiger Equipment Inc. as a dealer for SkyTrak telehandlers. They will provide sales and service coverage throughout northwestern Mississippi, southwestern Tennessee, and Crittenden County in Arkansas.

Tiger Equipment will represent five SkyTrak telehandler models with capacities ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 pounds and maximum lift heights from 36 feet to 54 feet. SkyTrak's all-wheel steer telehandlers have features such as three steering modes, Cummins engines and a patented Stabil-Trak system for improved stability.

JLG has also appointed Beaupre Aerial Equipment as a dealer for JLG telehandlers. They will provide sales and service coverage for the greater metro Twin Cities area in Minnesota.

Beaupre will represent six JLG telehandler models with capacities ranging from 5,000 to 12,000 pounds and maximum lift heights from 19 to 55 feet. Among their features are three steering modes, a side-mounted engine and high boom pivot for excellent operator visibility, and a strong boom for a variety of Quick-Switch attachments.

Lastly, JLG appointed Bierschbach Equipment and Supply Co., Inc. as a dealer for SkyTrak telehandlers. They will provide sales and service coverage throughout the state of South Dakota.

Bierschbach will represent five SkyTrak telehandler models with capacities ranging from 6,000 pounds to 10,000 pounds and maximum lift heights from 36 feet to 54 feet.

JLG provides telehandlers for technician training

JLG Industries, Inc. will supply three aerial work platforms to the FABTECH Service Technician Education Center in Oshkosh, WI. FABTECH is a new partnership between Fox Valley Technical College (FVTC) and FABCO Equipment Inc., the Caterpillar dealer for Wisconsin and upper Michigan, and is located in the hometown of JLG’s parent company, Oshkosh Truck Corp.

According to Robert Bailey, FABCO’s human resource manager and one of the principal architects of the program, JLG’s participation is of significant value to the program.

“FABCO’s 13 Cat rental store branches offer an extensive fleet of JLG equipment and having competent technicians on staff to maintain this equipment is key to our success,” Bailey said.

JLG is providing an electric-powered scissor lift, a gasoline-powered rough terrain scissor lift and a diesel-powered boom lift that will be used to teach students enrolled in the FABTECH program. JLG will also supply components used for disassembly and reassembly, on site support by a JLG trainer and course material.

The FABTECH program provides a certificate series of courses focused on developing entry-level technicians in the construction equipment, engine and electric power generation fields. The rental service technician career track includes extensive hands-on experience with aerial equipment. These are accredited programs that will provide students with opportunities to be on-the-job in less than a year.

Students who successfully finish one of the four different career tracks in the FABTECH program will receive a certificate of completion and can apply the credits earned toward an associate degree in selected fields. They also will have the opportunity to be employed at one of FABCO’s 23 facilities.

“JLG is very pleased to be able to participate in this program and looks forward to additional opportunities as they become available,” said Todd Weaver, JLG’s director of product support for the JLG Caterpillar Alliance. “We recognize the need to develop and employ experienced technicians and applaud FABCO’s initiative to pursue this program.”

The Tanfield Group proposes acquisition of Snorkel

The Tanfield Group Plc, a manufacturer of zero emission electric vehicles and aerial work platforms, is pleased to announce the proposed acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Snorkel Holdings and a conditional placing to raise $229.5 million.

Snorkel is a worldwide supplier of industrial aerial work platforms. The products have a wide range of working at height applications and are supported by service, parts and training teams.

The conditional agreement is to acquire the entire share of Snorkel capital for $100 million and assume approximately $25 million of debt. According to Tanfield, the acquisition could take place for $95 million in cash. In addition, the acquisition is to be satisfied as to $5 million by granting the sellers of Snorkel the right to receive 1,535,662 ordinary shares.

Net proceeds of the placing to fund the cash portion of the consideration for the acquisition as well as to provide Snorkel with additional working capital will expedite growth and improve margins through more efficient purchasing. In addition, the placing proceeds will be used to pay down approximately $25 million of debt in the Snorkel Group.

MEC appoints general manager

MEC Aerials has announced the appointment of Frank Shanahan to general manager of its California Manufacturing and Engineering Company (CMEC) division. CMEC manufactures electric and rough terrain scissor lifts and telehandlers that are marketed by MEC Aerials.

Shanahan joined CMEC in October 2004 as chief financial officer and later assumed operations responsibilities. He previously served as CFO and operations manager for Actagro, LLC. Actagro is a manufacturer and distributor of chemical fertilizers based in Biola, CA.

Prior to Actagro, Shanahan spent nine years in the insurance industry with Western States Administrators, National American Lift Insurance Company and the Department of Insurance at the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He also worked five years in banking as CFO and then president of Western Commercial, a bank holding company for Fresno Bank of Commerce and Merced Bank of Commerce.

Shanahan began his career with Ernst & Young, where he worked in various positions including senior audit manager specializing in the financial services industry. Shanahan is a certified public accountant and earned his B.S. degree in business administration at California State University at Fullerton.

MaxiForce opens warehouse on west coast

MaxiForce, a company that specializes in engine parts for John Deere, Cummins B & C and Perkins engines for the past 15 years, is expanding its operations to the West Coast with the opening of a new
warehouse that will enable the company to service the entire U.S. in three days or less.

“The most common themes we hear from customers is that quickness and reliability are crucial traits for any company they work with,” said Paul F. Kelly, sales and marketing director for MaxiForce.“For this reason, we’re continuing our tradition of addressing the needs of our valued customers and ensuring we remain a trusted partner.