Ruthmann, the manufacturer of aerial working platforms from Gescher in Münsterland, Germany, has effective June 1, 2018, has established its own subsidiary Ruthmann North America L.P. to further expand its global growth strategy to also include North America.
Ruthmann will with this new activity 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) as Executive Vice President, both based in Germany. Tom Goyer will take up a new position as Vice President of Sales & Market Development in North America and daily manager of the new company. Tom Goyer is based in Tampa, Florida, and will conduct his nationwide activities from there. He brings with him an 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.
Rolf Kulawik explains the reasons for this new initiative: "With this step we want to provide more support and focus to our sales and service partners by being closer to the customers. Tom 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, Texas, has for the past eight years successfully been and will remain the exclusive importer and distributor in North America of the Ruthmann Bluelift line of compact track-based lifts from Italy.
Last year ReachMaster expanded its portfolio of specialty lifts to also include the Ruthmann Eagle T108A, the first truck-mounted 108-foot lift in the U.S. that can be driven without a commercial driver's license. Ebbe Christensen, President of ReachMaster, Inc. said, "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. We welcome Tom 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." Uwe Strotmann added that new models are already in the pipeline to expand the Eagle line, which will continue to be both shown on upcoming tradeshows as well as promoted on ongoing roadshows.
Tom Goyer is looking forward to his new opportunities and concluded: "The Ruthmann products fit perfectly in the North American market place. Together with our partners we look forward to offering the best of everything in one, coordinated package: high performance, top quality, and superb service & customer support. This is what the North American market has been waiting for and I am very excited to be a part of it."
