Having steered a safe course through two recessions, negotiating troubled waters in which many competitors have come to grief, Acclaim Handling Ltd will reach its landmark 25th Anniversary in May 2007.
At the helm of the Essex-based company is its founder and Managing Director David Woods, for whom safety has always been a guiding principle. While embarking on any business venture involves some element of risk, David has 'played safe' in a number of important ways.
"A key lesson I have learned is to keep borrowing to a minimum," he says. "By keeping overheads tight and avoiding large debts we have weathered many a storm – and come out ready for further expansion."
Another of David Woods' safety principles is that customer loyalty and goodwill must always be maintained – and never sacrificed in the pursuit of new business.
Of course, it goes without saying that Acclaim has taken no chances when it comes to delivering high-quality products and good service. No company achieves Acclaim's size and success – £12.5 million turnover, 200 employees – by cutting corners.
Safety of another kind – safe workplaces and operations for employees, customers and the public – is also high on David's agenda. This is something he shares with the Fork Lift Truck Association, of which he is a Board Member.
The FLTA no doubt heartily approves of his attention to detail in that respect. Every aspect of Acclaim's business is closely scrutinised by its highly experienced Health and Safety Manager, and a range of Health and Safety services is offered by Acclaim to its clients.
Acclaim also employs its own full-time trainers and offers a variety of courses. In fact, its standards and procedures add up to a textbook example of how training should be managed and delivered.
"Acclaim is proud to be the longest-serving UK distributor for STILL Materials Handling, and to have built up such a strong reputation for quality, service and reliability," says David Woods. "We have greatly enjoyed working with our many valued customers through the years and we look forward to delivering solutions for a long time to come."
Many exciting challenges lie ahead for David and his colleagues. What was initially a fairly small dealership has developed into "The Acclaim Group", which contains a number of subsidiary companies* in addition to Acclaim Handling Ltd.
They include three fork lift truck companies: Solution MHE Ltd, based in Bristol; D&R Materials Handling Ltd, based in Spalding, Lincolnshire; and Acclaim Handling East Anglia Ltd, based in Norwich. Along with those are a warehousing company, Accstor Ltd, and an employment agency for fork lift drivers and other specialist operatives, Acclaim Logistics Ltd, both based in Purfleet, Essex.
From May this year, Acclaim Handling Ltd itself will be headed up by Richard Bonser, its current Operations Director, who has worked with David Woods for over 20 years.
The whole Group is owned by David's Holding Company, Ellisam Holdings Ltd, and his role from now on will focus on strategy, development and acquisition, as well as chairing the individual companies.
For further information on equipment and services available from Acclaim Handling and The Acclaim Group, call 01708 861414, email forklift@theacclaimgroup.com , fax 01708 861732 or visit www.theacclaimgroup.com.