22.05.2001

Euro-built Skyjacks by August

Skyjack scissor lifts will be built in Hungary during August. The surprise announcement came from Flores van Damm, managing director of Skyjack in Europe, during the UK’s recent SED show. He predicted that the company would rapidly increase production and would, with the assistance of Linamar, be able to produce high quality products at very competitive prices.
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European built Skyjack-Scissors will be available in August.

Linamar is one of the world’s largest producers of auto components and supplies most well known German auto manufacturers. The facility in Hungary is one of five owned by the company and is described by van Damm as being about “three hours outside Budapest”.

Asked how he would guarantee users that the Hungarian built machines would offer the same quality as Canadian built models, van Damm replied that current quality control procedures were considered satisfactory by Mercedes-Benz and BMW and would also be closely monitored by Skyjack. He added that the first units would be very similar to Canadian built units but that the “ultimate plan is European sourcing of components”.

Van Damm is also surveying clients to see what type of booms they would like Skyjack to add to its range and what level of price they would expect to pay.

* The deal with Linamar is expected to be concluded by the end of this month. It involves Wolf Haessler, the founder, chairman and controlling shareholder of Skyjack Inc, forming a partnership with Linamar to acquire 51 per cent of the issued shares. The partnership is controlled by Linamar. The original contact with Linamar was established to allow the sub-contracted production of platforms in Hungary. Linamar was extablished as a one-man operation 34 years ago, but now has 8600 employees in 4 countries and had an annual turn over of C$1.2 billion last year. Its corporate headquarters is on the same street as Skyjack which has led to speculation that some corporate administrative and financial functions might be cut at Skyjack headquarters.