Heritage

A Strong Heritage

In 2009, Hyster marked 80 years in the materials handling business and today is still setting standards in the industry. Big Trucks have played an important role in the brands history and are now part of Hyster's tough trucks brand image and what Hyster is partially recognised for.

This heritage is an important factor for many big truck users who select a supplier with a proven long term vision.

In the beginning
The brand has seen phenomenal success since its beginnings in the North American lumber industry in 1929, with global expansion and development since then making it one of today's strongest, world leading materials handling suppliers.

What's in the name?
The Hyster name derives from the logging foreman's instruction to his winch operator to "Hoist ‘er", and the earliest Hyster forklift was produced in 1934, followed by the Hyster BT model, built on a tractor chassis, in 1935.

NACCO
Hyster is part of NACCO Materials Handling Group (NMHG), a division of Cleveland, Ohio based, global giant NACCO Industries Inc, whose other activities include coal production and household product manufacture.

Manufacturing roots in Nijmegen
Hyster's first manufacturing plant dedicated to truck mass production was opened in Danville, USA in 1946. Six years later, in 1952, Hyster opened its first European plant in Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Today this plant is now a world class assembly line and centre of excellence for the design and build of Big Trucks and container handling equipment. Hyster has manufacturing facilities located across the world.

Progressive product design
Since its early days, Hyster has been known for its engineering excellence and has been at the forefront of forklift truck development with a full line of equipment now ranging from 1 tonne to 48 tonnes lift capacity.

Hyster's entire product range is designed in response to customer requirements and the company continually invests in research, design and development as well as the manufacturing facilities and processes to ensure quality and dependability throughout its product range.
Innovation

The industry's first three-wheeled lift trucks were introduced in 1948 with the first Dutch-built container handlers appearing in 1959. Hyster has been first with numerous Big Truck innovations since then and is today still first to market on a number of developments. See our top ten innovations or look at the engine and axle sections to see some historic new developments.

Hyster's progress and success for over 80 years is characterised by continuous product development and advanced manufacturing techniques. Tough trucks, together with the company's strong partnerships with distribution partners who offer superior local support services is a successful formula intended to keep the Hyster name at the forefront of the industry for many years to come.