01.12.2003

Skyjack to close European base

Skyjack, the Canadian scissor lift manufacturer has announced that it will close its continental European base in Mijdrecht, The Netherlands, and centralise all administration, invoicing and parts activities for Europe at its Oswestry, Shropshire, facility in the UK.

Only one of the six employees at Mijdrecht will remain with the company when the facility closes in January. Ron Schreurs, currently a parts specialist, will move to the post of salesman for Benelux, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Skyjack will now locate stock machines at four locations in Europe, which are as follows; Oswestry for the UK and Ireland, Nordic Lift in Goteborg, Sweden, which will cover Scandinavia, Plataformas Moyma in Madrid, Spain, which will cover southern Europe and a final location in the Benelux region yet to be announced.

The move is intended as a cost saving exercise and reflects the fact that the UK currently represents well over half of all Skyjack sales in Europe. Skyjack claims that the move does not represent a withdrawal from continental Europe but more of a “restructuring”. Martin Davies who now has overall responsibilty for Europe said that this change will allow the company to "bulk up its operation in the UK with all departing roles in Holland being replaced in the UK, possibly with some additional staff on top" The office and spare parts move is expected to be completed in the next two weeks.

The aim of locating inventory at dealer premises is also intended to place machines closer to the customer as well as saving storage and logistical costs.

In the 1990’s Skyjack had a relatively strong presence in continental Europe with its headquarters in The Netherlands and a small German production plant. In recent years however, this has declined to the point where they are no longer represented in some markets.

The company is seeing a resurgence in sales in both North America and in the UK where they have taken market share from competitors this year.

The company also announced earlier this year that they would be re-entering the boom market. It is understood that this is still the intention but no new boom products are expected at next year's American Rental Show or Bauma 2004.