Newly acquired scissor lift technology will complement Autoquip's materials handling equipment product line.

The Autoquip Corporation has acquired American Lifts from the Columbus McKinnon Corporation. The company's expanded product line will include American Lifts' scissors lift technology to complement Autoquip's in-plant, dock and Freightlift VRC materials handling equipment.

Autoquip executives say this purchase will benefit its customers by affording the company greater economies-of-scale in manufacturing, expanded engineering capabilities and expanded product offerings. They add that American Lift customers will also enjoy those benefits, and that the most noticeable differences for them will be the Autoquip label on the products and the shipping origin. American Lifts will move manufacturing and order fulfillment from Indiana to the Autoquip headquarters in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Autoquip will provide total warranty and parts support for all American Lifts brand products. This includes both standard products and custom material handling solutions. American customers will see no change in support or service.

"Custom material handling solutions are one of the major areas Autoquip and American Lifts have in common," said Louis Coleman, Autoquip's director of marketing. "Our two companies represent a dominant share of the market for the design and manufacture of specialized, custom materials handling solutions for specific applications. This joining of products will increase our ability to offer even more custom designs to our customers."