Impact Handling is to be renamed Aprolis Handling as the materials handling specialist moves closer to its French parent company five years after being acquired.
The rebrand follows Aprolis Group’s acquisition of the UK business in 2021 and is intended to create a more unified identity across its European operations.
Founded in Hull in 1985, Impact Handling has grown from a regional supplier into a nationwide provider of forklift trucks, warehouse equipment and materials handling solutions.
Its offering includes counterbalance forklifts, reach trucks, powered pallet trucks, stackers, warehouse equipment and specialist machinery for different industries and operating environments.
The business also provides servicing, maintenance and fleet support throughout the equipment lifecycle.
Impact Handling has maintained a long-standing relationship with Cat Lift Trucks, while also working with manufacturers including Carer, Konecranes and Mol.
The company said the rebrand follows a period of growth since joining Aprolis Group and will support further expansion in the UK.
Steve Shakespeare, chief executive of Aprolis UK, said the company had deliberately retained the Impact Handling name following the acquisition because of its established reputation.
“When Aprolis Group initially acquired Impact, we deliberately made the decision to retain the company name because of the strong reputation the business had built over many years and the respect it commanded throughout the industry,” he said.
He said the timing was now right to bring the company more closely under the Aprolis brand.
“However, having recently marked five years since joining the Aprolis family, it felt like the right moment to take the next step in our journey,” Shakespeare said.
The transition will become increasingly visible over the coming months as the Aprolis Handling name is introduced across the business.
Shakespeare said the change was designed to retain the foundations of the existing operation while opening up new opportunities through the wider group.
“The rebrand builds on the strong foundations that have made the business successful, while creating new opportunities for the future with the support, investment and expertise of Aprolis,” he said.
“Ultimately, becoming Aprolis Handling reflects who we are today and where we want to go tomorrow and we’re hugely excited to turn this page and embark on a new chapter under a fresh banner.”
Aprolis Group specialises in the sale, rental and maintenance of industrial materials handling equipment and operates in markets including France, the UK, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Luxembourg and China.
The group forms the materials handling division of Monnoyeur, a France-headquartered family-owned business operating across 23 countries.
Monnoyeur employs more than 9,000 people and reports annual revenues of more than €3.4 billion, with operations spanning construction, industrial, energy and agricultural equipment.