EP North America
Illinois-based Big Lift has completed the acquisition of ePicker LLC, a fast-growing Fort Worth material handling equipment provider, according to a press release.
Terms were not disclosed.
Since its launch in 2021, ePicker has built a network of industry-leading material handling distributors that market its portfolio of electric pallet jacks, stackers, access vehicles and lithium-ion-powered forklifts to customers across North America.
ePicker will rebrand as EP in a move designed to capitalize on its parent company’s strong global brand reputation. Big Lift is the North American subsidiary of EP Equipment, one of the fastest-growing and most innovative material handling equipment companies in the world.
EP North America will be based in Fort Worth.
“This acquisition is an important part of Big Lift’s strategy to become the market leader in lithium-powered material handling solutions and, specifically, the industry leader in lithium forklifts in North America,” said Dan Rosskamm, president of Big Lift. “The addition of the ePicker team and ePicker forklift distributors will benefit both channels as it will enable Big Lift to dramatically increase our resource base, significantly strengthen our aftermarket support capabilities, and ensure we continue to launch high-quality, innovative products.”
Big Lift, headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, distributes Big Joe Forklifts, a leading North American material handling brand founded in 1951. Big Joe pioneered the Class III “walk-behind” lift truck market segment and continues to have the broadest portfolio of powered walk-behind lift trucks in North America, according to the company.
The North American EP brand will utilize the former ePicker leadership team that joined the company through the acquisition, including Jason Bratton, ePicker president.
The Big Joe and EP brands will be distributed through their current sales channels while focusing on different product segments, according to the company. The Big Joe channel will continue to focus on innovative niche products and in-between-handling applications while the EP channel will primarily focus on “purpose-built” lithium-ion forklifts. Both brands will offer market-leading autonomous solutions.
“Building off the success of ePicker, EP North America will hit the ground running, bringing best-in-class lithium-powered forklifts to retailers, warehouses and DCs,” said Bratton, now general manager for EP North America. “As demand for new energy forklifts is increasing, I am excited to be part of a larger global team that shares the vision of what North America needs for material handling solutions.”