CINCINNATI - After two sales and a merger in two years, material-handling specialist Bode-Finn Co. has adopted a new name, Hyster Mideast, serving parts of Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The new identity comes on the heels of two rapid ownership changes sandwiched around Bode-Finn's merger last year with Quimby Material Handling, a Hyster lift truck dealer.

NationsRent, No. 4 on the RER 100, acquired Bode Finn in May 1998 for $43 million, but sold the material-handling division within months to NACCO Materials Handling, a Cleveland-based manufacturer and distributor of lift trucks, including the Hyster line.

In 1998, Bode-Finn had $61.2 million in total revenue and was No. 48 on the RER 100, including its aerial work platform business, which NationsRent retained.

Hyster Mideast, based here with 12 locations, is expected to soon begin renting aerial work platforms again after a noncompete agreement expires.