Forklift News

CLARK Expands Lexington KY Facility

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CLARK employeesLexington, KY – March 5, 2019 – CLARK Material Handling Company, one of the most recognized forklift brands in North America, plans to expand facilities at its North American corporate headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky by adding a third facility to the company’s manufacturing operation. In conjunction with this expansion, CLARK will begin re-shoring to Lexington production of its “heart-of-the-line” internal combustion products, the “S-Series.” Volume production of the S-Series is expected this summer.

“This is the third expansion of CLARK’s Lexington campus in four years,” said Scott Johnson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for CLARK. “We completed a new R & D/Engineering Center in 2017, and in 2016 we expanded our manufacturing footprint to include high volume models previously produced in Mexico. To meet the growing demand for the company’s electric and internal combustion products, CLARK will produce nearly 80% of its products in Lexington.”

At a recent groundbreaking ceremony held in Lexington, Dennis Lawrence, CLARK’s President & CEO commented: “This is an important step to position CLARK for the future. This expansion will enable us to improve our operations, drive out waste and reduce lead times. We are excited to be strengthening our investment in the Lexington area. The dedication and productivity of the local workforce is key to helping expand our production capacity. Our expanded facilities are important elements in our desire to exceed customer expectations and fuel global growth.”

About CLARK Material Handling Company

CLARK Material Handling Company has been an industry leader since its production of the first gasoline powered material handling truck in 1917. CLARK is privately held by the Young An Company. CLARK has over 550 locations worldwide with dealer representation in more than 80 countries. A full range of I.C. and Electric trucks for diverse applications are available in the CLARK product line. CLARK was named a Best Place to Work in Kentucky for 2019.

About Cal-Lift

Cal-Lift is a full-service material handling equipment dealership in Southern California. Lift Truck brands include, BYD Lithium Iron Phosphate battery powered forklifts, CLARK Material Handling forklifts, Combilift multi-directional narrow aisle forklifts, Lift Master narrow aisle articulating forklifts and Taylor Big Red, heavy-duty forklifts and container handlers. We also specialize in service and parts for all makes and models of forklifts. In addition, we are the local distributor and servicing company for Kalmar Ottawa yard tractors and spotters. Learn more about Cal-Lift at our website.

 

Scott Johnson Elected Chair of ITA

Barry Material Handling News , , , ,

Scott JohnsonCLARK Material Handling Company (CLARK) is pleased to announce that Scott Johnson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, has been elected the new Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Industrial Truck Association (ITA). Scott accepted the gavel from outgoing Chairman Brett Wood of Toyota at ITA’s 34th Annual Meeting held at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, September 13-16, 2017.

“CLARK was instrumental in the formation of the Industrial Truck Association
over 65 years ago,” commented Scott upon accepting this prestigious position.
“For all these years, ITA has been the leading organization in the industrial truck
industry in North America, and has led the way for the formation of sister
organizations in other parts of the world. I am humbled and extremely proud to
support and now lead this organization which has served the forklift industry and
its members so well for so long.”

Scott previously served on ITA’s Statistics Committee and has represented
CLARK on ITA’s Executive Committee for several years. Scott has worked in the
material handling industry for over 20 years. He is also an active member of the
Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA). Scott is an avid
outdoorsman, and a proud alumnus of the University of Kentucky.

Industrial Trucks and the US Economy

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Industrial trucks and forklifts sales are directly tied to our economy. When our economy does well, more forklifts are required to move the goods ordered by customers and end-users. Conversely, when a downturn occurs, forklift sales drop, sometimes dramatically as they did with the recession of 2009. What few people understood until now, the economic impact these forklifts make on our economy. Recently the Industrial Truck Association in conjunction with Oxford Economics researched the topic, and below are some of the significant findings.

  • Industrial truck manufactures generate 209,600 jobs in the US, directly and indirectly.
  • The economic impact of forklift on the US economy is $25.7 billion dollars. Here in California forklifts generate over $1.9 billion dollars to our state economy.
  • Over $15 billion of that contribution is a result jobs that support forklift sales and service such as service technicians, the parts that are made and sold and installed on forklifts, training centers etc…
  • The Bureau of Labor and Statistic (BLS) estimates that there are about 540,000 industrial truck operators in the US.
  • There are over 200,000 forklifts sold annually in the US.
  • Over 1 million forklifts are sold around the world each year.
  • The industrial truck industry generate about $5.3 billion dollars in state and local taxes.

As you can see, when we sell a forklift we create a lot of work not only here at Cal-Lift, but for our customers, their customers and the impact is felt all throughout our state and national economy.

Report – Industrial Trucks Impact on US Economy