20.03.2006

Valla UK spreads its wings

Following lengthy discussions with the senior managers of Valla S.p.A in Italy, Valla UK, the UK/Ireland distributor, wholly owned by Peter Hird, has signed an agreement to sell, promote and service the full Valla Range of cranes in the North American market.

The future of Valla America has been up in the air since the death of John Valla last year. Valla has until now operated a company store from its base in Fresno, with its main sales and service location in Dallas Texas.
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Peter Hird Centre, accepts the Valla Top dealer award for 2004 from Antonio Valla(L) and Maurizio Manzini (R) general manager of Valla SpA

Valla Spa approached Hird, whose Valla UK business has consistently been Valla’s top distributor, to see if it would be interested in taking over the US sales operation. “We have spent a good while looking into the feasibility of the dealership and following some very strong enquires, we agreed to take on the North American dealership” said Peter Hird.

Valla Italy is currently undergoing ANSI approvals on its latest models. In the meantime Valla UK is setting up a support infrastructure, which will consist of using the same sales and service organisation used by the late John Valla.
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A selection of Valla cranes at the company's Piacenzza plant

In a further unrelated move Valla UK is also opening up a new market for Valla cranes in the Middle East. It is in final discussions with a local partner and expects to set up a regional office shortly.

The company has already secured an order for four cranes and plans to model the new venture on its UK set up. This will include a rental fleet in order to help sell the concept and demonstrate the capability of the Valla electric cranes.