A successful Doncaster business that has just celebrated its first anniversary is showing signs of bucking the economic downturn and going from strength to strength, despite the difficult economic climate.

The Forkway Group opened its Doncaster branch in September 2008 in order to strengthen its forklift truck and materials handling equipment sales, rental and service offering for Yale materials handling equipment within the South Yorkshire, Humberside, and North Lincolnshire regions. Located close to the M18 motorway at Kirk Sandall Industrial Estate, the branch houses comprehensive workshop and service facilities.

Gary Hawkhead, who joined the Forkway Group as sales director for the region, says business is booming with forklift truck rental and fleet maintenance the most successful areas of the business. He says: "The recession and economic downturn may seem to have contributed to our success rather than hindered it. "Although many companies in the materials handling industry have been experiencing difficulties and the market as a whole has been hard-hit, there will always remains a need for business to operate logistically. The real difference in these times is that businesses have a greater focus on efficiency and this is where Forkway differs and excels in the materials handling market," says Gary.

"Many companies have been wary of making large purchases, which has led to an increase in our contract rental business. This acquisition proposition has enabled our customers to continue their operations and react to changes in their own industries without the burden of huge outlays."

Forkway director Richard Greaves adds: "It was always our belief that Doncaster would be an important centre for many manufacturing and distribution companies and this has indeed turned out to be the case. We have added 133 new names to our growing list of customers since opening the depot and may even need to consider moving to larger premises in the area in the near future to satisfy demand." Within the first year of operation Forkway's Doncaster branch has seen considerable new business wins and is now responsible for a fleet of nearly 200 forklift trucks working with major companies such as Ideal Stelrad, Wincanton, RMS Europe, Heras UK Fencing Systems, Aggreko UK, Beatson Clark and Georgia Pacific.

A team of seven engineers and four customer support staff are based in the Doncaster office. All employees have received intensive training in the entire range of Yale forklift trucks and materials handling equipment which, with lifting capacities from 1 to 16 tonnes, offers one of the most modern and cost effective solutions for any forklift truck or warehouse equipment operator. Speaking for Yale Europe, area business director, David Bunting, says: "With well established operations in the South of England and Yorkshire, the opening of a new Forkway centre in Doncaster was, and still very much is, good news for Yale customers."Our strategic plan for the remainder of this year and into 2010 is to position Yale and our dealer network to be ready to take advantage of the economic upturn and The Forkway Group is integral to this. "After being appointed as an authorised Yale dealer in 2008 and following its expansion in Doncaster, The Forkway Group's success has exceeded our expectations and we look forward to continued growth as the team drives the business forward and grows the UK market share for Yale." The Forkway depot in Doncaster offers the full range of Yale materials handling equipment including products from the NexGen electric counterbalance range, the Veracitor VX internal combustion engine forklift range as well as the full range of warehouse equipment.