Baumann has announced its first UK winner of a ‘dealer of the year’ award, since the establishment of the UK subsidiary in August 2015.
Achieving top sales throughout Baumann’s UK dealer network, Hessle Fork Trucks was presented with the accolade to honour efforts made in sideloader sales in 2016.
Hessle was the first dealer to be appointed since the founding of the Italian manufacturer’s UK division. Baumann UK managing director, Jason Reynolds, said a strong presence in heavy industries marked out Castleford-based Hessle as an excellent partner.
“They’re off to a flying start,” said Jason. “Although Hessle have only been an official distributor for 18 months, Baumann has had an informal relationship with Hessle for some time. They understand our products and mechanics well, which we believe is what makes customers come back to us time and again. Hessle offers our customers with professional, reliable and high quality support, worthy only of this level of recognition.”
Hessle, formed in 1968 in Yorkshire, has been the largest Manitou forklift truck dealer in the country for several years with a short-term hire fleet of over 500 machines. Further depots in Durham and Northants have helped extend Hessle’s geographical reach, whilst the acquisition in 2011 by investors, Corpacq, made them an integral part of a group with an annual turnover approaching £240m.
Gary Hawkhead, director at Hessle Fork Trucks, was proud to be presented with the dealer of the year award. “I’m delighted that our partnership with Baumann is paying off,” he said. “As Hessle has grown, our customers handling timber, scaffolding or metalwork have recognised Baumann as a market leader and interest in what was once seen as a niche product has increased.”
Based in Cavaion on the shores of Lake Garda, Baumann is a family-owned company that has led the sector for over 40 years, and now sells its products worldwide through 106 dealers in 76 countries. The 2016 FLTA Innovation award winner produces equipment up to 50 tonnes capacity, and has a reputation for consistent invention and the highest level of design and productivity.
