12.11.2008

Iteco appoints Russon Access

Iteco, the Italian based aerial lift manufacturer has appointed Russon Access Platforms as its exclusive distributor for the UK and Ireland.

Discussions between the two companies have been on going for several months, with both Russon Access and Iteco working together to formulate an attractive proposition for Access rental companies in the UK and Ireland.
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The Iteco stand at APEX

Alan Russon said “I was looking for a complementary product line that fits in with our very successful Holland Lift range. Iteco has some very innovative scissor lifts which are not offered by the mainstream manufacturers. These products will provide rental companies with the opportunity to develop their customer base, whilst having something new and different to discuss instead of the run of the mill stuff ".
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The side extension on the Iteco IT4680M

Iteco is one of the longest established European aerial lift manufacturers and produces around 1,000 units a year. The company does well in a number of markets, such as Germany, Spain and Scandinavia and says that it is looking forward to developing the UK market with Russons.

The dealership agreement was finalised late last week and Russon has wasted no time in agreeing the first order for a number of 14 metre IT12122, electric scissors with 1.4 metre deck extensions to Yorkshire based rental company Lifterz. Delivery is scheduled at the end of this month.
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Iteco's latest the IT17210 with 56ft/17m platform height, 2.1m width, 3.9m length with 4x4 battery power and 2m deck extension

Russon and Iteco say that they will be organising a UK/Ireland road show early in the new year in order to present the products to potential buyers.

Vertikal Comment

Iteco has tried several times to break into the UK market but never managed to pull it off, largely due to distribution problems. In spite of this a fair few units have been sold to UK buyers over the years in spite of the company having had anything much to offer UK rental companies.

At one time the products were somewhat ‘me too’, nice but with a high price and uncertain support. An attempt to become more competitive in the 1990’s with some economy models had little appeal in terms of both specification and price.

However much has changed at Iteco since them. Over the past three to four years, a new design team has turned out some first class, innovative products while the company has built up some real stability and consistency. Those who have purchased from Iteco in this period report being very satisfied with the reliability and performance.
Click here to see SAIE report 2004
While much has changed and the products are now much better engineered, they have retained the excellent standards of finish that for the most part they always had.

The product range is now both of a high specification and quality with a number of niche models and features. They should therefore sit well alongside Holland Lift, while offering a more competitive price structure in the small to mid range and on some models better delivery times.

Russon Access has done well with the Holland lift range which command premium prices and for some models, long delivery times. The manufacturer now owns 40 percent of the business and so would have been consulted on this move and have clearly agreed with it.

While it is perhaps not the best time to be launching in the UK, the fact that Iteco now has several niche products in its range, such as--

- The IT7380 – imagine a compact MX19/GS1932/1930ES but with a 24ft (7.2m) platform height and full one metre deck extension.

- Or the IT4680 with full length lateral deck extension.

- Or the IT151 series of outdoor battery electric models, so popular in Germany.

- Or the new 50ft/15m true Bi-Energy Rough Terrain scissor lift with 7.1 metre double deck.

- Or the very latest 56ft/17m platform height IT17210 RT electric with 4x4 drive, two metre roll out deck and compact 2.1m x 3,9m overall dimensions.

---Which Russon will surely focus on, could play well to rental companies looking for products that offer them an edge.

Perhaps Iteco time has arrived?