30.11.2010

Snorkel and Leach Lewis team up

Aerial lift manufacturer Snorkel has teamed up with Leach Lewis Plant an independent construction equipment distributor in the UK, to sell, fund and support Snorkel products in the UK.

The joint initiative will trade as Snorkel UK and will hold an inventory of Snorkel products for short or even immediate delivery. Customers will also have access to a wide range of asset finance plans from Leach Lewis

The partnership with Leach Lewis follows Snorkel’s appointment of Mark Yarnold as UK key account sales manager earlier this year, he will work closely with the powered access specialists in Leach Lewis’ industrial division which is to be led by Frank Iszard.

Yarnold said: “There are clear signs that UK demand for aerial lifts will return in 2011. Working with Leach Lewis we can offer our customers the flexibility to react faster, and grow their fleets, as demand increases, we are confident that together we will be able to offer the service that our customers expect.”

Iszard said: “Leach Lewis has over 75 years of experience in developing markets for construction and industrial equipment and has significant expertise in finding its customers the right finance package, even during the downturn.”

Leach Lewis managing director Peter Whittall added: “By combining our significant resources, we believe we can provide UK customers with an opportunity to make Snorkel a key partner in their growth plans. As the market demand returns, availability of product combined with effective financing solutions and investment in aftermarket support makes Snorkel a very attractive proposition.

Snorkel UK will open for business tomorrow - 1st December

Vertikal Comment

This could prove to be a significant coup for Snorkel if Leach Lewis is able to provide attractive finance packages for regional rental companies to expand or renew their fleets as the recovery gathers pace.

Most manufacturers and rental companies realise that any upturn is likely to be hampered by the availability of funding, as banks and finance companies maintain their tight hold on credit.

If Snorkel has aspirations to recapture a significant slice of business from the major national rental companies it will need to make sure that it is not perceived to be funding no-hopers who simply slash rates to make their payments.

Assuming the operation reserves its finance resources for solid well run and profitable rental operations it should do well. Many of them will appreciate the flexibility that this partnership is proposing to offer and if so it could help significantly boost the manufacturer’s sales in the UK market.