History 

Hyster started as a small manufacturer of winches and lifting machines used in the logging and timber industry of the United States’ Pacific Northwest. The name originated from the call of the labourers who would shout “Hoist’er!” when a log was ready to be lifted.

A few years later the first forklift trucks were invented and Hyster quickly gained its reputation for rugged quality. Over eight decades Hyster has continuously developed its product offering and service network to become the leading international player it is today. The time line below highlights some of the milestones along the way.

1920’s	Willamette Iron & Steel becomes a leading manufacturer of lumber carriers in the USA.
1929	Willamette Iron & Steel, Electric Steel Foundry and Ersted Machinery join forces to form a new company named Willamette Ersted.
1934	A straddle carrier with forks was one of the earliest forklift trucks manufactured by the company which, by this time, had been renamed Hyster.
1935	The ‘BT’ with its cable hoist system was one of the first Hyster forklift trucks.
1940	By experimental use of tractor frames, an advanced type of mobile crane was developed, later named the “Karry Krane”.
1941	As the need for a variety of lift truck sizes became more apparent; Willamette-Hyster designed a new smaller lift truck, known as the “Handy Andy”.
1942	The “Jumbo” was the first Willamette-Hyster truck to use pneumatic tires and a telescoping mast.
1944	The organisation is renamed “Hyster Company” and an export department is created to provide better service for lift trucks that were now being sold in other parts of the world.
1946	Hyster Company’s first plant devoted exclusively to the mass production of lift trucks opens in Danville, Illinois (USA).
1952	Hyster opens its first plant outside the US, in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. The Hyster 40” and Karry Kranes were the first machines to be assembled there.
1959	Hyster moved into a new market with American built container handlers, later called “Big Trucks”.
1964	Hyster introduces the famous Monotrol® pedal, a unique development providing forward/reverse direction control in one simple pedal.
1966	Hyster opens a new design and development centre in Portland, Oregon (USA). Today, this is still the world’s best-equipped and largest lift truck testing facility.
1970	Mass markets are developing and Hyster meets this challenge by developing the XL design philosophy, providing quality at an affordable price.
1981	Hyster opened a new manufacturing plant in Craigavon, Northern Ireland, dedicated initially to manufacturing internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks.
1989	Hyster purchased by NACCO Industries Ltd. a Fortune 1000 company based in Cleveland, Ohio (USA).
1993	The XL philosophy is progressively replaced by the XM generation of product combining outstanding performance and excellent driver comfort.
1996	Following the acquisition of manufacturing plants in Modena and Masate (Italy) a complete warehouse equipment range is developed for Europe, the Middle East & Africa.
1998	A substantial program of investment began to establish Nijmegen as the Global Centre for Big Truck design, development and manufacturing, with worldwide production being transferred to the plant in 2002.
2000	Warehouse product launches and improvements begin focusing on harmonisation and standardisation of key components such as controllers and tiller arms.
2002	Following a substantial programme of investment, Nijmegen has become the global centre for Big Truck design, development and manufacturing.
2004	All Hyster Company /Nacco Materials Handling Group, Inc (NMHG) facilities are awarded ISO 9001:2000 quality accreditation.
2005	Hyster begins to roll out a complete new generation of ICE trucks, with a modular design platform and innovative features, providing unprecedented reliability and value to users.
2006	As warehousing and distribution hubs grow world-wide, Hyster introduces the sophisticated VNA truck, featuring its unique quad mast design.
2007	Investment programmes continue, focused on product-line development, quality and efficiency in our supply chain and optimisation of NMHG’s world-wide manufacturing capacity.
2008	Hyster introduces a new generation of Electric Counterbalance trucks, which continues the company’s strategy of modular design and innovation and offer customers both outstanding performance and significant savings in operational costs.
2009	Hyster celebrates its 80th anniversary as a leading global manufacturer of materials handling equipment.