Haulotte, Bil-Jax to manufacture scissors in US

Come January 2009, Haulotte's line of narrow electric scissor lifts will be manufactured at Bil-Jax's Archbold, Ohio, US, facilities, according to Chuck Hutchinson, vice president of sales for Bil-Jax.

Haulotte and Bil-Jax recently integrated their respective sales and service operations, following Haulotte's acquisition of the US manufacturer. "The integration of the two companies is going well," Hutchinson said.

Haulotte's current line of electric scissors range from 15 feet to 53 feet of working height and are designed for compact, narrow spaces.

Hutchinson, who was one of the five senior managers who owned Bil-Jax, said that in addition to the sales integration, the two companies were already linking their service networks in the US, with Bil-Jax parts to be available from Haulotte's three parts stores in the US (with a fourth in Houston to open soon) and Haulotte service staff being trained on Bil-Jax equipment.

Sales teams have been reorganized under three managers. Brent Hagedorn of Bil-Jax remains director of national accounts, responsible for corporate contacts at major rental companies and contractors; Haulotte USA's chief financial officer, Christophe Debatisse, will be responsible for sales activities to aerial work platform rental specialists as well as contacts with regional and district managers of the major rental companies; and Bil-Jax's Hutchinson will be in charge of sales to independent rental stores, scaffolding sales to major rental companies at the branch level and international sales.

Hutchinson said all previous five owners of Bil-Jax would remain active within the company.