IAPS sells French parts business to TVH

UK-based access equipment distributor IAPS Group is selling its replacement parts business in France to TVH.

Indépendant Pièces et Service SARL (IPS SARL) supplies access platforms, spare parts and product support to the French market. TVH France SASU is buying the parts business of IPS SARL and its brand name. IAPS Group retains ownership of the global IPS brand and all of the IPS business outside of France; as well as retaining the machine sales and service side of its French operation. The parties finalised the deal on Monday, 3 November.

Frédéric Allier, director of IPS SARL, is remaining with IAPS Group to further develop its powered access sales and service operations in France.

“We have built up a strong machine sales and product support business in France,” said Frédéric. “By retaining ownership of this element we can grow access platforms sales in France while continuing to provide high quality service, preventative maintenance and technical assistance to all our French customers.”

Steve Couling, managing director of IAPS Group, stressed the sale of the parts business was limited to France and its worldwide growth stratey for IPS would continue as planned. "Parts was not a massive and terribly profitable part of the business in France, but sales and service is growing very rapidly there, so it will allow us to concentrate on that."

IPS SARL was founded in 2006 as a division of the UK-based Independent Parts & Service Ltd (IPS), which is now part of IAPS Group. Based in Abzac, near Bordeaux, IPS SARL is the approved service partner in France for several access platform manufacturers as well as offering a wide range of replacement parts.

Tony Jennings, chairman of IAPS Group, said, “The sale only concerns a portion of our operations in France. For the rest of the world, IPS remains a leading independent provider of replacement parts for access platforms, so our customers can rest assured it is business as usual.

“This move will enable us to realign our French operations and focus on the continued global growth of the IPS brand, such as our recent joint venture with Kanoo Machinery in the Middle East, North Africa and India, as well as our growing network of official Parts Partners.”

TVH France SASU is part of TVH Group NV which was established in Belgium in 1969. TVH is a global player for the sales of parts and accessories for material handling, industrial and agricultural equipment.