Two Chicago-based companies are changing their names after more than 40 years. Following a merger between Material Handling Services, Inc., and Illinois Material Handling earlier this year, the company is now announcing a new name: Equipment Depot.
“Material Handling Services and Illinois Material Handling joined forces in July to become the leading provider of material handling services in the Chicagoland area, northern and central Illinois, and northern Indiana,” said Frank Ricciardi, vice president of sales and marketing for Equipment Depot. “Our new name, Equipment Depot, solidifies our presence as one company and better communicates the vast array of services we offer our customers: more rental power, more service technicians, and more name-brand choices in forklifts and equipment for our customers.”
The company’s new name marks the final phase of a rebranding campaign following the merger. As Equipment Depot, the company has one of the largest equipment rental fleets in the region, with more than 700 lift trucks and 120 pieces of aerial and specialty equipment. It also offers the largest team of technical and service support compared to any other material handling company in Illinois, with more than 170 technicians, 120 service vans, and 6 service facilities strategically located throughout the Chicagoland area.
In addition to the name change to Equipment Depot, the company also recently appointed a new president and CEO, Larry O’Neill, who previously worked for a major Caterpillar dealership in the Chicagoland area and has more than 30 years of experience in the heavy equipment industry.
O’Neill has replaced Ed Fritz, former CEO of Material Handling Services, who has accepted a position with Equipment Depot of Texas as executive vice president.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Equipment Depot at this exciting time of growth and new opportunity for the company,” O’Neill said. “With the strong brand name of Equipment Depot, the new state-of-the-art superstore in Elgin, and the addition of the Caterpillar Lift Trucks brand, we have all the right ingredients to keep with our company mission of being the highest regarded provider of product and service solutions by exceeding customer expectations in everything we do.”
Equipment Depot offers a complete line of forklifts, aerial lifts, construction equipment, storage solutions and warehousing design and total service support for parts and equipment for the manufacturing, distribution and construction industries.
It serves 54 counties in northern and central Illinois and northern Indiana (Lake and Porter counties) from its main superstore in Elgin, and its service locations in Rockford (north and south), Grayslake, Alsip and Morton.
Equipment Depot is part of Pon North America (PNA), one of the largest material handling networks in the country. PNA has three other operating companies in the United States: Equipment Depot in Texas, which trademarked the company name and has used it in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma for more than 10 years; Portman Equipment in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia; and LeveeLift in Indiana and Kentucky. PNA is a division of Pon Holdings, the largest privately held company in the Netherlands.
Source: Equipment Depot
