Pon North America Acquires Forklifts Inc.

Feb. 1, 2008
CINCINNATI-Forklifts, Inc. is now an official member of the Pon North America group of material handling firms. The lift truck and aerial lift distributorship,

CINCINNATI-Forklifts, Inc. is now an official member of the Pon North America group of material handling firms. The lift truck and aerial lift distributorship, headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pa., is led by Doug Gibson, president and CEO. This $82 million company extends the large, successful territory under Pon North America.

Forklifts, Inc. was founded in 1955 with one facility in Harrisburg, Pa. The company grew through its reputation for dependable customer service. Acquisitions and the addition of equipment lines spurred further growth. Today, Forklifts Inc. represents multiple product lines from Cat, Linde, Doosan, Clark, and Nissan with 370 professionals in six facilities across the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and a portion of Delaware.

Pon North America, headed by president, Wym Portman, now represents five material handling companies in the U.S. These are successful companies that retain autonomy in their region, and benefit by sharing talent, best practices, equipment resources, and a single strategic vision. Joining Pon North America provides these companies with access to capital and the resources of the parent organization.

Pon North America was founded in 1987 by Pon Holdings, a $7 billion family-owned business in The Netherlands. They established the North American enterprise to pursue consolidation and growth opportunities in the material handling and contractor's markets with a focus on sales, rentals and aftermarket services.

With the addition of Forklifts, Inc., Pon North America companies are a national powerhouse with more than two thousand employees, over 30 equipment lines and coverage in 12 states. The combined sales of Pon North America operating companies now exceeds a half-billion dollars annually.