The forklift has been a tried and trusted piece of equipment for decades and these days we take efficient materials handling kit for granted. But the story of how they developed from little more than modified trolleys to today's electronically controlled super models makes fascinating reading.

Warehouse & Logistics News is proud to bring you an exclusive series on the history of the forklift truck, the technology that has transformed the face of materials handling around the world.

Our writer is James Brindley, the Director of the National Fork Truck Heritage Centre and an acknowledged authority on forklift trucks. In James's distinguished career he has worked in engineering and management roles with BT Rolatruc and served as a Director of the Fork Lift Truck Association, before setting up the National Fork Truck Heritage Centre in 2004.


Episode 24: 1956 - Clark introduces 'I' beam section mast
As work began in the New Year of 1956, Hyster launched an innovative feature for use on their UC-30 and YC-40 forklift trucks. It was known as the 'Monomast' and constructed from two telescopic units of box-shaped construction. The unusual design was intended to give greater visibility when travelling forwards with a load.


Episode 23: 1955 - Britain's Truck Manufacturers' Association publishes Code of Practice
Late in the summer of 1955 the compact, three-wheeled, electric 'Piccolift' was produced by Steinbock to be sold in Britain and the USA. This machine had a 24-volt battery and was capable of lifting 0.6 tonnes, with a choice of mast to 2.9 metres or 3.5 metres. Such was its popularity that it still survives in many applications today.


Episode 22: 1954/55 - The History of The Fork Lift Truck
Last to mention, but not the last of the forklift truck companies to exhibit at the British Industries Fair in 1954, were Yale and Towne. They presented the first in the series of their new electric range of pedestrian pallet trucks ('Worksaver') and a new ride-on straddle stacker ('Warehouser.') The pedestrian-operated 'Worksaver' machines included a counterbalance stacker and the high and low lift 'Super Stubby' pallet trucks.


Episode 21: 1954 - A big year for innovation
Of the eight British manufacturers that produced new truck models during 1954, the Lister 'Autotruck' forklift was the only real surprise. Breaking with convention, it was the only non-rough terrain forklift truck with the mast and forks situated to the rear of the driver. Fitted with a single cylinder petrol engine, it had a lifting capacity of 1000lb to 9 feet. The operation of this machine, such as squaring up to a pallet, must have been quite demanding for the operator over an eight-hour shift.


Episode 20: 1954 - New forklift models
As 1953 came to a close the diesel engine was now well established with a growing number of major manufacturers. However, there were still some like Ellwell Parker and Hirst & Son Ltd with their new 'Forager' who kept the petrol engine as standard. This was also the case for the 'Komatsu Forklift Company Ltd' who were just starting to produce their first forklift trucks.


Episode 19: 1953 - The first catalytic converters
The fifth materials handling exposition held in the USA during May 1953 brought to public notice two new manufacturers of forklift trucks. The 'Gas-o-Matic' and 'Dynamotive' companies each launched trucks aimed at competing with manufacturers who used the torque converter type of drive.


Episode 18: 1952/3: British forklifts move forward
1952 was the year Hans Still, the founding member of the Still Company, died. He and his wife lost their lives in a car accident. The company fortunately recovered from the tragedy, and continued to build upon the principles of quality and service laid down during its formative years.


Episode 17: 1952: Hyster starts European production
1952 brought news of increased overseas investment and new fork truck models from the major manufacturers in America. The first 'Hyster' manufacturing plant outside the U.S.A was opened in Nijmegen, Holland to produce Karry Kranes and the counterbalance model 'YT 40' (Hyster 40.)


Episode 16: The Quest for Steel
British forklift manufacture during 1951 was more about supplying basic materials than building trucks. Post war supply and production of steel relied to a large extent on imports, and these at their best were not arriving in sufficient quantities to meet demand. The long-term situation was starting to be addressed in part by the Steel Company of Wales who were building a new four and a half-mile long steel production plant at Port Talbot.


Episode 15: 1950-51: UK government policy slows MHE growth
To complete 1950 it was The Yale Company once again that led technical advancement by adding LP-gas and diesel-powered counterbalanced trucks to its range. These machines introduced, for the first time, fluid coupled transmissions and hypoid drive axles to forklift trucks.


Episode 14: 1949-50: The rise of the British machines
1949 was the year the Matbro Company changed from the reconditioning and resale of ex-War Department equipment into a company manufacturing forklift trucks. The idea came from a truck modification that the company had carried out some months previously.


Episode 13: 1948 - New Trucks, New Companies - Read
By the end of 1948, there were many new models of forklift trucks appearing on the market. The majority had lifting capacities of 1,000lbs to 2,000lbs, and most were American. Alongside the well-known makes of Baker, Hyster and Lewis-Shepard were the Transitier, with a tiny 4-cylinder Crossley Cobra petrol engine and stylish bodywork.


Episode 12: The Marshall Plan
On 5 June 1947 the American Secretary of State George C. Marshall made a speech at Harvard University about the deteriorating social and economic situation in the European countries.


Episode 11: 1947 - British trucks to the fore.
1947 was a busy time for British manufacturers of forklift trucks, and for one in particular this meant searching for a new factory site.


Episode 10: 1946 - The Rise of the British machines
As we come to 1946, we are now at the point in history where British companies were starting to design and produce an all-British version of the counterbalance forklift truck.


Episode 9 - War is over
The Americans saw the marketing opportunity first, and during 1945 the Clark Company took steps to appoint dealerships within Europe.


Episode 8 - The War Years
On the home front, during the war a large proportion of most British engineering companies' production time was taken up in manufacturing armaments.


Episode 7 - The War Years
As with the earlier conflict of 1914/18, the Second World War gave a tremendous boost to the materials handling industry, and in particular to the wider adoption of the pallet and engine powered counterbalance truck.


Episode 6 - The Eve of the War
In the mid 1930s, following the purchases of The Walker Vehicle Company and the Automatic Transportation Company of Chicago, the Yale Company opened a manufacturing plant in Wednesfield, UK.


Episode 5 - After the slump
Following the general strike of 1926, UK investment in automated handling came almost to a standstill as companies fought to recover their market positions


Episode 4 - 1926-8 Oil Hydraulics
In 1928, the Clark Company in America unveiled their first production forklift truck. Known as the "Tructier," it had front wheel drive and was the first forklift truck on record to use oil hydraulics to lift a load.


Episode 3 - 1924-5: UK & US Innovation
1924-5 was a particularly important time for the efficiency of the battery-powered truck, and especially for D.P Batteries of Bakewell, Derbyshire, a British company at the forefront of battery supplies.


Episode 2 - The First Forklifts
During the First World War, much of Britain's male workforce went off to fight, putting greater pressure on the remaining workers and encouraging industry to make greater use of mechanisation in their materials handling.


Episode 1 - The Need For Mechanisation
Ask most people within the materials handling industry why we have so many different types of machine to do the same sort of job, and they will differ greatly with their replies.