Forklifts are industrial trucks that are designed to move materials and cargo between multiple locations. With various types of forklifts in the market, each has its respective application and function.

There are a large number of forklift manufacturers around the world that produce different types of forklifts. For this article, we’ve teamed up with industry professionals and created a list showcasing the best forklift brands and manufacturers in the world. 

This comprehensive list will share each manufacturer’s history, production locations, as well as their range of forklifts that are available in the market. Please take note that these forklift brands and manufacturers are listed in no particular order.

Toyota Material Handling

toyota forklift

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  • Manufacturer: Toyota
  • Established: 1956
  • Headquarters: Indiana, US
  • More: Visit Website

Having entered the forklift market of North America more than 50 years ago, Toyota has manufactured more than 700,000 forklifts in the country so far. The company is based in Indiana, United States, and has become the top forklift brand since its incorporation in 1956 under the Toyota Material Handling Equipment Group, based in Toyota, Japan.

The Toyota Material Handling Equipment Group is a company that prides itself on its quality, value, and durability. Today, it develops a wide array of material handling equipment. It has a global forklift range that includes:

  • Electric Forklifts
  • Electric Pallet Jacks
  • Electric Pallet Stackers
  • Reach Trucks
  • Order Pickers
  • Internal Combustion Forklifts
  • Heavy Duty Forklifts
  • Hand Pallet Jacks

Crown Equipment Corporation

crown forklift

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  • Manufacturer: Crown
  • Established: 1945
  • Headquarters: Ohio, US
  • More: Visit Website

Crown Equipment Corporation started operating in 1945 and has since developed a reputation for world-class solutions and products that are innovative and reliable. Crown currently has 19 manufacturing facilities across the world, with its global headquarters based in Ohio, United States.

Sales offices and production facilities are available in the United States, Germany, Australia, Singapore, and China. Crown produces a variety of material handling equipment, including forklifts, pallet trucks, reach trucks, and more.

The company designs and creates up to 85% of components for each of its forklifts, which helps it keep control over the quality that is achieved. Their comprehensive forklift range is as follows: 

  • Electric Counterbalance Forklifts
  • IC Counterbalance Cushion Tire Forklifts
  • IC Counterbalance Forklifts
  • Pneumatic Tire Forklifts
  • Order Pickers
  • Reach Trucks

Linde Material Handling

linde forklift

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  • Manufacturer: Linde
  • Established: 1904
  • Headquarters: Germany
  • More: Visit Website

One of the largest forklift manufacturers in the world, Linde Material Handling was formed back in 1904 under the name Güldner-Motoren-Gesellschaft, in Munich, Germany. Today, the company is represented in over 100 countries, with production and assembly plants in Germany, the United States, France, China, and the Czech Republic. 

Linde produces a large catalog of material handling equipment. Its products range includes 77 series with 382 variants. Their unique modular system allows the company to provide innovative solutions to companies for unique applications. Below is a list of forklifts that Linde manufactures:

  • Forklift Trucks
  • E-Trucks
  • Pallet Trucks
  • Order Pickers
  • Reach Trucks

Jungheinrich

jungheinrich forklift

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  • Manufacturer: Jungheinrich
  • Established: 1953
  • Headquarters: Hamburg, DE
  • More: Visit Website

Jungheinrich was founded in 1953 in Hamburg, Germany. The company is now one of the most respected names in the world of material handling equipment thanks to its innovative and reliable products. The brand has developed an international distribution network and its forklifts are available globally.

Today, there are more than 600 forklifts offered by the company. The different categories of forklifts and other material handling equipment on offer include:

  • Forklift Trucks
  • Pallet Trucks
  • Order Pickers 
  • Reach Trucks
  • Narrow Aisle Trucks

Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks

mitsubishi forklift

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  • Manufacturer: Mitsubishi
  • Established: 1937
  • Headquarters: Kyoto, ‎JP
  • More: Visit Website

Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks is a part of the Mitsubishi Logisnext group, which was founded in Kyoto, Japan back in 1937. Since then it’s become a globally renowned manufacturer of material handling equipment and various other types of industrial trucks.

Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks has been producing forklifts for more than 25 years and the company is known for its reliable, innovative, and low emission product range. Mitsubishi produces a wide range of forklifts across 3 main categories:

  • IC Forklifts
  • Electric Forklifts
  • Warehouse Handling Equipment 

Cat Lift Trucks

caterpillar lift trucks

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  • Manufacturer: Caterpillar
  • Established: 1925
  • Headquarters: Illinois, US
  • More: Visit Website

Caterpillar is a very popular name when it comes to material handling and construction equipment. It was formed in 1925, in California, when the C.L. Best Tractor Company and Holt Manufacturing Company underwent a merger.

Cat Lift Trucks was formed in 1965 when Towmotor Corporation was acquired by Caterpillar. Today, they’re known to provide an extremely wide range of industrial and commercial products. As far as forklifts are concerned, Caterpillar offers the following:

  • Electric Forklifts
  • LPG Forklifts
  • Diesel Forklifts
  • Manual Forklifts
  • Reach Trucks
  • Platform Stackers
  • Turret Trucks

Hyster-Yale Material Handling

hyster-yale forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: Hyster-Yale
  • Established: 1991
  • Headquarters: Ohio, US
  • More: Visit Website

Hyster-Yale Material Handling has been serving the industry for more than 90 years and was incorporated in 1991. It has a global presence thanks to manufacturing and development facilities located across five continents.

These can be found in the United States, the United Kingdom, China, India, and Japan, among various other countries. Hyster-Yale is a globally recognized manufacturer of forklifts. Its main markets include Eastern Europe, China, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.

There are over 45 models of material handling equipment to choose from, including forklifts, pallet stackers, and more. The forklift product range is as follows:

  • IC Pneumatic Forklifts
  • IC Cushion Forklifts
  • High Capacity Forklift Trucks
  • 3 or 4 Wheel Electric Forklift Trucks
  • Reach Trucks
  • Narrow Aisle Forklift Trucks

Anhui HELI

Anhui heli forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: Anhui HELI
  • Established: 1958
  • Headquarters: Anhui, CN
  • More: Visit Website

Anhui HELI was founded in 1958 and is a subsidiary of the Anhui forklift group, which is based in China. Its headquarters are based in Hefei, which is in the Anhui province and also where the company got its name from. It has been the top forklift supplier in China for 31 consecutive years and the 7th top forklift manufacturer in the world. 

HELI has achieved this success over a period of 61 years of development. Today, it exports to more than 150 companies and offers over 1,700 different models. These products are spread across the following categories:

  • Electric Forklifts
  • Electric Reach Trucks
  • Heavy Forklifts
  • Wheel Loader Forklifts 

Hangcha

hangcha forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: Hangcha
  • Established: 1956
  • Headquarters: Hangzhou, CN
  • More: Visit Website

Hangcha was formed as Hangcha Repair Factory back in 1956 and was renamed Hangcha Group Co, in 2010. Its headquarters is based in Hangzhou, China while it has facilities in the USA, Canada, and Europe as well.

In more than 65 years of development and innovation, Hangcha has become a name synonymous with quality. It annually produces more than 250,000 forklifts and other warehouse equipment in its Chinese facility. Some of the forklifts by Hangcha include:

  • Electric Forklifts
  • IC Forklifts
  • Pallet Trucks
  • Reach Trucks

Komatsu

Komatsu forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: Komatsu
  • Established: 1921
  • Headquarters: Tokyo, JP
  • More: Visit Website

Komatsu is a Japanese manufacturer of material handling equipment and is based in Tokyo. The company was founded more than a century ago in 1921 and has since become a significant name in the industry. In the United States, it operates as Komatsu America Corp. The US headquarters is located in Chicago, Illinois. 

Komatsu’s forklift portfolio is not as varied as some other companies on this list but the quality of the products is up there with the best. Komatsu currently has more than 10 forklift models across categories like:

  • Electric Forklifts
  • IC Pneumatic Forklifts
  • IC Cushion Forklifts
  • Narrow Aisle Forklifts

Manitou Group

manitou forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: Manitou
  • Established: 1957
  • Headquarters: Ancenis, FR
  • More: Visit Website

Manitou is the flagship brand that’s part of the Manitou Group. The company was founded in 1957 when the first forklift truck for the brand was designed by Marcel Braud. Manitou is based in France and is known worldwide for its rough terrain forklifts. 

There are 58 different models of Forklift Trucks at the moment, with both electric and diesel options to choose from. This forklift brand also has a Special Solutions department that offers special forklifts customized to each customer’s particular needs. Here are some of the most popular forklifts from Manitou:

  • Telehandlers
  • IC Forklifts
  • Electric Forklifts
  • LPG Forklifts
  • Diesel Forklifts

Doosan Group

doorman forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: Doosan
  • Established: 1896
  • Headquarters: Seoul, KR
  • More: Visit Website

With its headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Doosan is a brand that produces various logistics equipment around the world. The company was founded by Park Seung-jik in 1896 so it has been around for a very long time.

Doosan designs and develops both electric and IC forklifts, as well as other material handling equipment. Its focus on durability and innovation has made it a global force in this industry. It manufactures Class 1 to Class 3 Forklifts, reach trucks, and order pickers, among more. Here’s a complete list:

  • IC Pneumatic Forklifts
  • IC Cushion Forklifts
  • Electric Forklifts
  • Stackers
  • Reach Trucks
  • Order Pickers

CLARK Material Handling Company

clark forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: CLARK
  • Established: 1917
  • Headquarters: Kentucky, US
  • More: Visit Website

CLARK Material Handling Company started operating over a century ago in 1917. It was founded by Eugene B. Clark and is based in Kentucky, USA. The company found its fame in 1920 when it developed the world’s very first forklift that used a hydraulic lifting mechanism. 

Today, more than 350,000 forklifts by CLARK are working across the globe across five main categories. The brand is highly innovative and constantly improves its product offering. A list of forklifts can be found below.

  • IC Pneumatic Forklifts
  • IC Cushion Forklifts
  • Electric Forklifts
  • Narrow Aisle Forklifts

Hyundai Material Handling

hyundai forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: Hyundai
  • Established: 1947
  • Headquarters: Seoul, KR
  • More: Visit Website

One of the biggest names in the automobile industry, Hyundai, also creates forklifts and other material handling equipment. The company was formed in 1947 in South Korea. It started manufacturing forklifts in 2000 in North America.

Hyundai’s headquarters for forklifts and other industrial trucks under the name Hyundai Material Handling is based in Georgia, while its main headquarters is based in Seoul, South Korea.

Backed by the industry-leading warranties that Hyundai offers, the modern, innovative, and durable diesel, electric, and LP-powered forklifts on offer are some of the best in this industry, globally. Here’s a list:

  • Diesel Forklifts
  • Electric Forklifts
  • LP Forklifts
  • Reach Trucks
  • Order Pickers
  • Standup Forklifts

Combilift

Combilift forklift

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  • Manufacturer: Combilift
  • Established: 1998
  • Headquarters: Annahagh, IR
  • More: Visit Website

Combilift is a younger company when compared to many in this list but it has quickly become a larger manufacturer when it comes to multi-directional forklifts. It was founded in 1998 and has its headquarters in Annahagh, Ireland.

Combilift specializes in multi-directional forklifts, which are exported to over 85 countries. Currently, there are more than 60,000 Combilift trucks being used across the globe. The forklift model ranges at Combilift include:

  • Multi-Directional Forklifts
  • Sideloading Forklifts
  • Articulated Forklifts

EP Equipment

ep equipment forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: EP Equipment
  • Established: 1993
  • Headquarters: Hangzhou, CN
  • More: Visit Website

EP Equipment is a Chinese material handling equipment manufacturer. The company is based in Hangzhou, China, and was founded in 1993. It is the number 1 Class III forklift manufacturer in the world and a market leader in Lithium-Ion technology. 

With production plants spanning more than 250,000 square meters in China and the United States, EP Equipment produces and sells more than 100,000 forklifts a year. Its products range from Pallet Trucks and Stackers to Electric Forklifts and Reach Trucks. Here’s a more comprehensive list:

  • Vertical Order Pickers
  • Low-Level Order Pickers
  • Stackers
  • IC Forklifts
  • Electric Forklifts
  • Reach Trucks

Noblelift Intelligent Equipment

noblelift forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: Noblelift
  • Established: 2000
  • Headquarters: Changxing, CN
  • More: Visit Website

Another Chinese manufacturer, Noblelift Intelligent Equipment, is headquartered in Changxing. The company has established a global presence and has sold many units to countries across various continents.

Noblelift Intelligent Equipment has more than 2,000 employees globally located in Europe, the United States, and Malaysia. In its forklift catalog are hundred of different models that are spread across these categories:

  • Forklifts
  • Reach Trucks
  • Pallet Trucks
  • Electric Stackers

Liuzhou Liugong Forklift 

liuzhou forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: Liuzhou
  • Established: 1958
  • Headquarters: Liuzhou, CN
  • More: Visit Website

Now known commonly as Liugong, Liuzhou Construction Machinery Factory was formed in 1958 in Liuzhou, China. In 2007, Liuzhou Liugong Forklift Co. was founded after which subsidiaries were established in North America and Latin America. It currently has 20 manufacturing bases across the world. 

Today, Liuzhou Liugong Forklift produces a complete range of material handling equipment with an annual production capacity of about 30,000 forklifts. It offers a wide range of forklifts that include:

  • IC Forklifts
  • Electric Forklifts
  • Reach Trucks

HUBTEX Maschinenbau

forklift hubtex

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  • Manufacturer: HUBTEX
  • Established: 1981
  • Headquarters: Fulda, DE
  • More: Visit Website

HUBTEX Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. is a German manufacturer with its headquarters located in Fulda, Germany. The company was founded in 1981 and has become a market leader when it comes to the logistics industry.

Other than employing innovation and durability in its material handling equipment, HUBTEX also aims to be a sustainable production company. The core business of the company is to design and produce custom forklifts and other equipment for customers. HUBTEX does this across a vast range of categories including

  • Order Pickers
  • Multi-Directional Forklifts
  • Reach Trucks 

Godrej Material Handling

Godrej forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: Godrej & Boyce
  • Established: 1963
  • Headquarters: Maharashtra, IN
  • More: Visit Website

Godrej & Boyce, also known as Godrej Material Handling, was founded in 1963 and is the largest manufacturer of forklifts in India. The company’s headquarters is located in Maharashtra, India. It partners with companies like Komatsu, Crown, Hubtx, and CVS Ferrari to provide even more options to its customers. 

Godrej Material Handling develops electric, diesel, and LPG forklifts and ships them to more than 40 countries. They also develop other types of MHEs, which it markets throughout the world. Here’s a list of their forklifts:

  • IC Forklifts
  • Diesel Forklifts
  • Electric Forklifts
  • Stackers

Liebherr

Liebherr forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: Liebherr
  • Established: 1949
  • Headquarters: Bulle, CH
  • More: Visit Website

Hans Liebherr laid the foundation for Liebherr in 1949, in South Germany. It prides itself on being a family-owned business that has spread across the world since its inception. Today, the Liebherr Group is present in over 50 countries and is headquartered in Bulle, Germany. 

The divisional control company for the Material Handling Technology segment of the Liebherr Group is located in Kirchdorf an der Iller in Germany. Liebherr develops Telescopic Handlers for various uses as part of this segment that is high-quality, robust, and powerful machines. 

  • Telescopic Handlers

MHE-Demag

mhe Demag forklift

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  • Manufacturer: MHE-Demag
  • Established: 1972
  • Headquarters: Singapore
  • More: Visit Website

MHE-Demag was fully acquired by Konecranes in December 2019. It’s now strategically positioned to handle marketing, sales, and operations in the Asian market. Before the acquisition, the company was established in 1972 with its base of operations in Singapore. 

Its vision was to take care of everything that had to do with material handling. Their major products are industrial cranes, hoists, warehousing equipment, aerial work platforms, and construction equipment MHE

MHE-Demag has 11 factories, present in 70 locations spread in Southeast Asia, and a workforce of 2,400 personnel. Their forklift range can be viewed below. 

  • Electric Forklift
  • IC Forklifts 

Sumitomo NACCO Forklift

sumitomo forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: Sumitomo
  • Established: 1972
  • Headquarters: Aichi, JP
  • More: Visit Website

Sumitomo NACCO Forklift Co. is based in Aichi, Japan. The company was founded in 1972 and today has around 1,200 employees. It provides high-quality materials handling equipment to various countries. It also partners with Hyster-Yale in the United States to provide specific solutions to its customers. 

The company various has offices in Vietnam, the Philippines, Shanghai, and other locations for sales and maintenance. In 2020, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary. Below, you’ll be able to find the types of forklifts they manufacture:

  • IC Forklifts
  • Electric Forklifts
  • Reach Trucks

Hoist Material Handling

hoist forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: Hoist
  • Established: 1918
  • Headquarters: Indiana, US
  • More: Visit Website

Hoist Material Handling is located in Indiana, USA, and was originally established in 1918 when it created cranes and built lift trucks. It was in 2000 when it acquired Elwell-Parker and shifted towards designing and developing forklifts. The 100% US-made forklifts by Hoist have capacities starting from 7 tons up to 57 tons. 

Hoist Material Handling prides itself in manufacturing 75% of all components in-house with a high-quality process. The other components are responsibly sourced through US-based vendors such as Cummins and Dana. Here’s a comprehensive list of their forklifts:

  • IC Pneumatic Forklifts
  • IC Cushion Forklifts
  • IC & Electric Counterweight Forklifts 

Landoll

landoll forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: Landoll
  • Established: 1963
  • Headquarters: Kansas, US
  • More: Visit Website

Landoll was established in 1963 by Don Landoll. The company started by developing construction and farming equipment. Today, it creates forklifts and various other types of industrial trucks. In recent years, it has developed a reputation for some of the best narrow-aisle solutions. 

Landoll has two lines of Narrow Aisle and Very Narrow Aisle Forklifts as well as two lines of electric forklifts. The company also creates a Stand-Up Compact Forklift. Overall, Landoll excels at creating forklifts that are not only reliable but also designed to work in the narrowest of spaces.

  •  Narrow Aisle Forklifts
  • Reach Trucks
  • Precision Telehandlers
  • IC Forklifts
  • Electric Forklifts

Kalmar

kalmar forklift

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  • Manufacturer: Kalmar
  • Established: 1940s
  • Headquarters: Helsinki, FI
  • More: Visit Website

Kalmar is a subsidiary of Cargotec which is a company based in Finland. Kalmar itself was formed in the early 1940s and is based in Helsinki, Finland. It specializes in designing and manufacturing heavy-duty forklifts for various cargo handling needs, as well as port equipment such as cranes and trucks. 

Kalmar produces electric and other forklift trucks across different capacity ranges. The company also prides itself in heavily investing in automation and robotics, with the goal to constantly innovate. Here is their forklift range:

  • Electric Forklifts (Light, Medium & Heavy)
  • IC Forklifts (Light, Medium, Heavy & Super Heavy)

Svetruck

svetruck forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: Svetruck
  • Established: 1977
  • Headquarters: Ljungby, SE
  • More: Visit Website

Based in Ljungby, Sweden, Svetruck is a market leader when it comes to log handlers and heavy-duty forklifts. The company was founded in 1977 and has since become one of the largest heavy-lift forklift manufacturers in the world. 

Svetruck builds all of its machines with the highest levels of quality in mind. Its forklift range is divided into small-range, mid-range, and heavy. Under each category, Svetruck offers a variety of forklift models for specific purposes.

  • IC Forklifts (10 – 55 tons capacity)

SANY Heavy Industry

any forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: SANY
  • Established: 1989
  • Headquarters: Changsha, CN
  • More: Visit Website

SANY Heavy Industries is based in Changsha, in the Hunan Province of China. The company was founded in 1989 and it has grown to become the third-largest manufacturer of heavy equipment. 

SANY focuses on delivering high-quality products across a number of categories. One of these categories is port machinery and that is where the SANY Forklift Truck can be found. With a weight capacity of 10 – 16 tons, their heavy-duty forklift truck is fit for a number of purposes. 

  • Heavy-Duty Forklifts

Lonking

lonking forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: Looking
  • Established: 1993
  • Headquarters: Longyan, CN
  • More: Visit Website

Established in 1993, Lonking Forklifts is a Chinese manufacturer of material handling and construction equipment. It is based in Longyan, Fujian, and is a subsidiary of one of the biggest Chinese construction manufacturers, Lonking Holdings.

Today, the brand’s equipment is used in over 40 countries and it has distribution networks in various parts of the world. They also offer a repair and service feature for their customers. Here’s a list of their forklifts:

  • Electric Forklifts
  • LPG Forklifts
  • IC Forklifts

Lonking produces various types of forklifts including electric, LPG, and diesel models. There are models fit for both small and large-scale operations to suit customer needs. 

BYD Forklifts

byd forklifts

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  • Manufacturer: BYD
  • Established: 1995
  • Headquarters: Shenzhen, CN
  • More: Visit Website

BYD was founded in 1995 and headquartered in Shenzhen, China with its initial purpose of manufacturing batteries. By 2010, its business had expanded, offering electric forklifts powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries.

Between the years 2014 to 2020, the expansion of the forklift business saw the upgrading of its capabilities and the opening of various offices in Japan, the United States, Australia, North America, and Europe. In 2015, BYD was able to implement its ISO Quality Management System.

The newest facility of BYD is a 50,000 square foot office in Rancho Dominguez California dedicated to BYD forklifts, products, parts, and a place to conduct demos and training. Their major offering is a multipurpose all-electric forklift with capacities of handling 3 to 10.7 tons. 

  • Electric Forklifts

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Andrew Lin

Co-Founder & Writer
at freightcourse

About the Author

Andrew is a multi-business owner with over 12 years of experience in the fields of logistics, trucking, manufacturing, operations, training, and education.

Being the co-founder of freightcourse has given him the ability to pursue his desire to educate others on manufacturing and supply chain topics.