Toyota Material Handling North America (TMHNA) and Tailift USA are announcing an alliance to leverage and improve distribution and aftermarket support capabilities for Tailift USA.

Jim O’Brien

As part of the alliance, TMHNA will provide support to Tailift USA to help strengthen its product, distribution management, service, and support for dealers and customers.  TMHNA and Tailift USAalso will collaborate on business support tools to strengthen the Tailift organization.

TMHNA is comprised of two leading material handling and intralogistics brands: Toyota and Raymond. Tailift USA’s parent company was created by the Lin family in Taiwan in 1973, and in 2015, it became part of the Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO) group of companies.

Jim O’Brien has been named managing director and will oversee Tailift USA’s operations. Jim has 30 years of experience in the material handling industry through a variety of roles with The Raymond Corporation. His experience spans a wide range of sales and operational areas, including oversight of telematics, aftermarket sales and support, and other product and quality support functions. He also has significant knowledge of the sales and distribution process, having closely partnered with many material handling dealers throughout his career.

“I am grateful for the opportunity with Tailift USA, and I am excited to utilize my experience in this endeavor,” O’Brien said. “That experience, coupled with the strengths of both companies, is expected to better position Tailift USA for future success.”

Amy Lin will supervise strategic alignment and ensure the smooth implementation of business goals as the representative of Tailift USA on the board of directors.

“I am excited for Tailift USA’s next chapter, and we believe working more closely with other members of the TICO family will be positive for the Tailift business,” Lin said.

“TMHNA is the industry leader in the material handling business,” said Sam Coles, TMHNA chief sales and marketing officer. “By building on this success and leveraging the strengths of both companies, we can optimize sales and operations while generating increased value for TICO’s overall material handling business.”

TICO explained the alliance is a way to enhance Toyota’s material handling business in the United States. These efforts will not result in any changes to the existing dealership networks of Toyota Material Handling and The Raymond Corporation. Additionally, the sales organization of Tailift USA and the distribution management and governance methods remain unchanged.