TOMCAT UK and PCM Form Strategic Partnership

Wednesday, September 14, 2005 || TOMCAT Global

Two of Europe’s leading master distributors of Columbus McKinnon Chain Hoists, TOMCAT UK and PCM, have joined forces to provide a highly efficient and more comprehensive service to the entertainment industry in the United Kingdom and Europe. TOMCAT UK Ltd acquired PCM, a division of Pfaff Silberblau Ltd, on September 9, 2005 to form a new strategic partnership that will connect the PCM brand with the TOMCAT Global family. The deal, announced at the opening of the PLASA show by Mitch Clark, President of TOMCAT Global, and Thomas Dory, CEO of Pfaff Silberblau GmbH, will include the transfer of the PCM brand and Pfaff’s distributorship of the Columbus McKinnon Entertainment Lodestar Hoists to TOMCAT UK.

Although it will no longer market products under the PCM banner, Pfaff will build on its 20 years’ experience in the UK stage and theater applications, where it leads the field in developing innovative stage-lift solutions using actuators. “We will continue to market our extensive selection of ‘backstage” equipment, including the UK’s most comprehensive range of electric and manual winches, chain hoists, personnel lifts and the award-winning Unibar lifting system,” commented Pfaff UK MD Paul Kelly. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with TOMCAT UK and are eager to continue the partnership between Pfaff and TOMCAT UK,” Kelly added.

Conversely, TOMCAT UK will now be the sole master distributor of Columbus McKinnon Chain Hoists in the UK. “The transfer will be seamless for both PCM and TOMCAT customers,” stated TOMCAT UK General Manager, Tony Dickson. “PCM customers will now have access to staging, lighting and support systems as well as hoists in one phone call. By bringing together our experience we can offer more to customers than we can by acting separately,” said Dickson. Dickson was a Divisional Manager for PCM prior to his move to TOMCAT UK in May of 2004. “Working with the PCM crew again will be such a pleasure,” he stated. Having trained over 1,000 technicians within the UK and Europe, Dickson also maintained the training will continue along the same lines. “With most of my old team intact at Pfaff, the great team we have here at TOMCAT UK Ltd and the Brilliant Stages crew there is nothing we cannot do for the entertainment industry in the way of stage, truss and rigging,” Dickson added.

The process of transfer has already been set in motion with the anticipation of it being complete by September 12, 2005. TOMCAT UK will not obtain any PCM employees; however, the same phone, fax and website will not only connect customers with TOMCAT’s service, full line of lighting, staging and support products but TOMCAT Global’s can-do attitude as well. “We are very excited about this partnership. The level of experience and expertise with Columbus McKinnon Chain Hoists as well as the power to provide the best deals now available to the customer cannot be matched outside of Columbus McKinnon itself. We feel the combined resources will strengthen technical and design support as well as develop new projects,” stated Mitch Clark.