Western Australian headquartered materials handling company, United Equipment, has captured a substantial section of the Victorian market with the acquisition of the Westerns Forklift Service.
Western Australian headquartered materials handling company, United Equipment, has captured a substantial section of the Victorian market with the acquisition of the Westerns Forklift Service.
Western Australian headquartered materials handling company, United Equipment, has captured a substantial section of the Victorian market with the acquisition of the Westerns Forklift Service.
United Equipment was established in August 2005 after a merger between the lWelshpool-based W.A. Forktrucks and W.A. Access which also owned and operated N.T. Forktrucks.
Owned and operated by Laurie Puddy for over 20 years W.A. Forktrucks and Access had grown to be a major player in the Materials Handling industry with a turnover of over $79 million.
"In order for the company to grow further we needed capital investment, we had the vision, the knowledge and expertise and that's where AMP came in," said Chairman of United Equipment, Laurie Puddy.
AMP Capital Investor Private Equity took up 56% of the new entity United Equipment with Laurie Puddy maintaining a sizeable interest.
Since the merger of the two operations, AMP and W.A. Forktrucks, the last 10 months has seen United Equipment embark on a series of prime acquisitions in Victoria which has resulted in the purchase of 2 other principal operators, WAGMAC in Dingley and DFS in Geelong. The acquisition of Westerns is the latest in this move east.
Since August 2005 United Equipment has increased turnover of $79 million AUD to $150 million AUD with this latest takeover.
Chairman Laurie Puddy said "This brings our total number of operating hire units to somewhere in the vicinity of 5100 and in excess of 125 service vehicles nationally. The purchase of Westerns makes United Equipment a formidable operation in Victoria and while I can't comment on industry speculation as to who might next join our operation, I can say that this is a very exciting time for us"
United Equipment also has strong holdings in Western Australia, The Northern Territory and New South Wales with plans for even further expansion in the very near future.