German aerial work platform manufacturer Ruthmann is expanding its presence in North America.
The company has established its own subsidiary Ruthmann North America L.P. and plans to continue to develop its presence in the North American market along with its two long-standing sales and service partners, Time Manufacturing and ReachMaster Inc.
Uwe Strotmann, general director of sales at Ruthmann GmbH & Co. KG, has been appointed president of the new company with Rolf Kulawik, managing director at Ruthmann GmbH & Co. KG, named as executive vice president, both based in Germany.
Tom Goyer will take up a new position as vice president of sales and market development in North America and daily manager of the new company. Goyer is based in Tampa, Florida, and will conduct his nationwide activities from there. He brings with him extensive experience in the truck-mounted powered access industry and will be responsible for the strategic development of the Ruthmann truck mounted products in North America.
Kulawik says one of the reasons for this new initiative is to be able to better service their customers.
“With this step we want to provide more support and focus to our sales and service partners by being closer to the customers,” Kulawik said. “Tom [Goyer] knows the North American market for truck mounted aerial working platforms like the back of his hand and is therefore the ideal candidate for this new important position.”
Time Manufacturing in Waco, Texas, has been Ruthmann’s long-time partner for larger truck-mounted aerial work platforms, and together the two companies have developed the U.S. market for the well-known Ruthmann Steiger products. A key element has been the process of adapting the German-made lifts to conform with ANSI standards. The SKYBIRD 215l is a result of these efforts and sets a new benchmark in North America for this category.
ReachMaster Inc. in Houston has served as the exclusive importer and distributor for the past eight years in North America of the Ruthmann Bluelift line of compact track-based lifts from Italy, and the company will continue to do so.
Last year, ReachMaster expanded its portfolio of specialty lifts to also include the Ruthmann Eagle T108A, the first truck-mounted 108-ft. lift in the United States that can be driven without commercial driver’s license.
“The joint development between our companies of the Eagle mid-range truck mounted line has shown there is a niche market for this type of product,” said Ebbe Christensen, president of ReachMaster, Inc. “We welcome Tom [Goyer] onboard as another great example of Ruthmann’s commitment to the market. I have known Tom for years, and I know he will be a great asset for us in developing this segment of the truck-mounted market together.”
Strotmann said that there are plans to add new models to expand the Eagle line, which will continue to be promoted both at upcoming trade shows and ongoing roadshows.
Goyer said he is looking forward to his new opportunities and concludes.
“The Ruthmann products fit perfectly in the North American market place,” Goyer said. “Together with our partners, we look forward to offering the best of everything in one, coordinated package: high performance, top quality, and superb service and customer support. This is what the North American market has been waiting for, and I am very excited to be a part of it.”
For further information, please visit www.ruthmann.us.
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