Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has announced the sale of its LB Smith dealership in New York State to Vantage Equipment LLC, of Syracuse. 

The appointment of Vantage Equipment as an authorized Volvo CE dealer became effective Aug. 27, 2004.  The new dealership will serve its market area from current LB Smith branch facilities in Buffalo, Latham (Albany), and Syracuse.  The New York City metropolitan area is not included in the sale and will continue to be served by Malvese Equipment Company Inc., Hicksville.

Volvo CE purchased the assets associated with the Volvo construction equipment distribution business of LB Smith Inc., its distributor for a majority of the East Coast, in May 2003.  Volvo CE has, since that acquisition, continued the operations of the former dealer at existing locations under the name LB Smith so that, according to Volvo, it would ensure that its customers continued to receive the highest possible standards of product support and service.  The sale of the New York territory is part of Volvo CE’s ongoing divestment of its LB Smith territories. 

Vantage Equipment is headquartered at 5985 Court St. Road, Syracuse, NY.  John Hession, the company’s chief executive officer and dealer principal, has been associated with the construction equipment industry for 26 years.  He was most recently the chief executive officer and part owner of Syracuse Supply Company, the former Caterpillar dealer in upstate New York.  Todd Kaley, with nearly 20 years of sales and sales management in the construction equipment industry, is vice president of sales.

“We’re very excited with the opportunity to continue to serve the construction industry in New York State with the finest equipment on the market today,” said Hession. “I know customers may have had some questions about LB Smith’s future ownership and we want to assure them that Vantage Equipment is committed to giving them outstanding product support.  We are fortunate to be joined at Vantage by the former LB Smith staff members in New York who will work with us to grow the company and provide unmatched customer satisfaction.”