Tyneside firm expands across region with new forklift trucks

North East fork lift truck specialist, Permatt is on a renewed expansion programme involving a head office relocation and investment in a new fleet of commercial vehicles.

The growth comes as the Killingworth-based business has strategically shifted from the supply of Toyota to Cat Lift Trucks.

Permatt, the largest independent forklift truck supplier in the North East, became the exclusive dealer for Cat in the North East and Cumbria area.

With a workforce of around 24 people, Permatt is now looking to relocate from its premises on Camperdown Industrial Estate to a nearby site in Tyneside. The company will continue to also operate from a depot in Penrith, Cumbria.

Mark Percy, managing director of Permatt, said: “In recent years we’ve worked hard as a team to tighten our systems, focus on our customers and the quality of our service and the vehicles, that we offer. This has enabled us to achieve steady growth.

“By establishing a new dealer relationship with Cat Lift Trucks, we believe we can take Permatt to a new level by offering North East businesses greater flexibility and an extensive range of used and new forklift trucks.

“This has also given us full exclusivity in our area for the Cat Lift Trucks brand.”

Cat Lift Trucks has been manufacturing warehouse machinery for more than 60 years and offers a full range of gas, diesel and electric-powered fork lift trucks with a loading capacity ranging from one to 16 tonnes.

Mark Percy added: “Cat Lift Trucks produce some of the world’s market-leading trucks and through our relationship we also have the option to sell heavy duty trucks with a loading capacity of up to 45 tonnes with the Kone brand.

“We’re now in a much more flexible position, able to offer customers the best forklifts for every materials handling job, inside and outside.”

Permatt is close to reaching a fleet of 400 vehicles in its range of short and long-term hire of materials handling equipment.

Established in 1981, Permatt has business relationships with various customers across the North East and Cumbria, supplying specialist trucks, spare parts, maintenance and operator training.

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