Snorkel Resumes Production in Kansas

Feb. 10, 2003
Snorkel International last month resumed production of aerial work platforms at its old factory in Elwood, Kan., sales manager Bob Buehler told RER. Snorkel
Snorkel International last month resumed production of aerial work platforms at its old factory in Elwood, Kan., sales manager Bob Buehler toldRER. Snorkel was acquired in December by a group of Kansas investors led by Al Havlin, a Kansas businessman.

Snorkel is producing, on an as-ordered basis, 19-, 20- and 25-foot slab scissor lifts, 25-, 32-, and 40-foot rough terrain scissor lifts, telescopic boom lifts ranging in height from 37 to 126 feet, and 41-, 50- and 60-foot articulating boom lifts. The Snorkel staff is in the process of moving its parts inventory from Omniquip’s Minneapolis facility and will soon have its complete parts, service and training program set up in its Elwood headquarters.

The Snorkel staff is working of developing its distribution network, and has signed several manufacturers’ rep groups to represent the product, including Wirant Sales, Certified Marketing, the Douglas Group and the Johnson Co. Snorkel, which will be exhibiting at this week’s American Rental Association convention, is taking orders direct from rental companies.

“We’re going to do business the old-fashioned Snorkel way, with a good product and fair prices and back it up with quality service and support,” said Buehler. Principal owner Havlin is acting CEO for the revamped Snorkel, with Terry Henke is general manager and Regan Adkinson operations manager.