International growth course: HUBTEX acquires stake in US distributor DSH

HUBTEX Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG from Fulda is expanding its presence in the USA. As of January 2021, the German forklift manufacturer has acquired half of the shares of the exclusive distributor Design Storage & Handling (DSH). The company is thus continuing its international growth course, which began last year with the acquisition of the Australian subsidiary HUBTEX Australia. The aim is to further position both electric multidirectional sideloaders and special-purpose trucks in the core markets there and thus to strategically expand the North American market together with DSH.

Measured by the highest number of vehicles outside Germany, the USA is the most important export market for HUBTEX outside Europe. For more than 30 years Design Storage & Handling (DSH) has successfully distributed the product portfolio of the HUBTEX group in the North and Central American markets USA, Canada and Mexico. Now HUBTEX has taken a stake in the previous general importer and acquired 50 percent of the shares of owner and entrepreneur Rob Alling as of January 2021. In addition to Alling, Hans-Joachim Finger, Managing Director Sales and Purchasing at HUBTEX, now acts as Managing Director. As part of the succession plan, it is also planned that DSH will become a wholly owned subsidiary in the next few years.

Future potential lies in automation

In addition to the main office in Fredericksburg (Virginia), DSH has three other locations in Brookville (Ohio), Charleston (South Carolina) and Seattle (Washington) with a total of around 40 employees. The distributor specializes in the complete solution portfolio in the field of long goods handling and offers the complete equipment of a warehouse in addition to the vehicles. The distribution and service of market-specific designed products, especially in the aerospace sector, characterize today the special cooperation between DSH and HUBTEX. In addition, steel, automotive, plastics, building materials and glass are among the most important sectors. For the future, HUBTEX sees further potential especially in the field of automation solutions. Together with DSH, the manufacturer aims to tap into a steadily growing market in the USA for fully automated returnable forklifts and special equipment in various industries.

For more information, please visit: https://www.hubtex.com/de