1868
Shortly before he dies in December 1868, Linus Yale Sr. brings on Henry Towne and changes the company's name to Yale & Towne Manufacturing. The business moves to Stamford, CT.
History
With a legacy built on innovation, our businesses and brands have played a defining role in shaping the materials handling industry. From groundbreaking patents to industry firsts, we’re constantly pushing boundaries and delivering technologies that move businesses forward.
1840’s
Linus Yale Sr. begins designing and manufacturing innovative, high-security bank locks, which lead to the founding of Yale Lock Manufacturing Company.
1875
Yale & Towne Manufacturing broadens its scope from locks to materials handling equipment with the acquisition of patents for hand powered chain hoists.
1920
Yale & Towne Manufacturing launches a new battery-powered low-lift platform truck, range of high-lift platform trucks, tow tractors and one of the first lifting trucks with tilting forks – following the purchase of C.W. Hunt Co., the developer of the industry’s first battery-powered low-lift platform truck (1919).
1929
The Willamette-Ersted Company, a manufacturer of winches and lifting machines for the lumber industry is founded by Charles F. Swigert. Legend has it loggers would cry out “hoist’er” as they prepared to lift a load – helping to derive the name Hyster.
1934
Yale & Towne Manufacturing, know knowns as Yale & Towne, opens its first oversees manufacturing facility in England.
1936
Willamette-Ersted Company, now renamed Willamette Hyster Company (1934), uses a tractor chassis and engine to build the BT, a lift truck with a 6,000 lb. lifting capacity. The company develops a straddle carrier with forks this same year.
1939
Willamette Hyster Company launches the “Jumbo” used by lumbermen to load ships and rail cars, boasting a 15,000 lb. lifting capacity. It was the first lift truck with pneumatic tires and a telescoping mast.
1940
Willamette Hyster Company develops an advanced mobile crane, “Cranemobile” later named “Karry Krane” for handling cargo at ports.
1940
As the need for a variety of lift truck sizes becomes apparent, Willamette Hyster Company designs a 4,000 lb. capacity lift truck known as “Handy Andy.”
1944
Willamette Hyster Company adopts the Hyster Company name and continues to reinforce its reputation for building durable and often massive lifting machines. During WWII, the company’s products are distributed oversees, helping launch its international presence.
1950
Yale & Towne adds gasoline-, LP- and diesel-powered lift truck to its product line.
1952
Hyster Company opens its first plant outside the U.S. in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
1959
Hyster Company begins building American-made container handlers, later called “Big Trucks.” The famous Monotrol pedal is introduced providing speed and direction control in one pedal.
1963
Yale & Towne Manufacturing merges with Eaton Manufacturing and becomes Yale & Towne, Inc. The parent company later becomes knows as Eaton Yale & Towne, Inc. (1966).
1972
Parent company, Eaton Yale & Towne, Inc. renamed Eaton Corporation (1971), forms a joint venture with Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Inc. to create Sumitomo-Yale Co., Ltd.
1974
Eaton Corporation opens its Greenville, NC plant to produce Yale electric trucks.
1985
North American Coal Corporation (NACCO) Industries, Inc. buys controlling interest in Eaton Corporation.
1986
Eaton Corporation sells assets of its industrial truck division to Yale Materials Handling Corporation, a newly formed subsidiary of NACCO Industries, Inc.
1989
NACCO Industries, Inc. purchases Hyster Company. This same year, NACCO Industries, Inc. creates NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. to integrate and manage the Hyster® and Yale® brands.
1996
Following the acquisition of manufacturing plants in Italy, the company expands product offerings in Europe, Middle East and Africa.
2002
Nijmegen, The Netherlands, becomes the global center for Big Truck design, development and manufacturing.
2005
The Hyster and Yale brands begin to roll out a new generation of ICE (internal combustion engine) trucks, with a modular design platform and innovative features.
2006
The Hyster and Yale brands introduce the sophisticated VNA (very narrow aisle) truck, featuring a unique quad mast design.
2012
Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. is formed as an independent public company, following NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc.’s spinoff by NACCO Industries. NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. becomes the operating company and the Hyster and Yale brands continue to do business under their assumed names.
2014
Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC, a hydrogen fuel cell company, is acquired.
2016
NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc. changes its name to Hyster-Yale Group, Inc. to reinforce its position as the operating company under Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc.
2016
Hyster-Yale Group, Inc. acquires the U.S. and U.K. telematics installation and distribution business of Speedshield Technology.
2016
Bolzoni S.P.A, a worldwide provider of attachments, forks and lift tables, is acquired.
2018
Hyster-Yale Group, Inc. acquires 75% interest in Zhejiang Maximal Forklift Company, later named Hyster-Yale Maximal.
2022
Hyster-Yale Group, Inc. acquires additional 15% interest in Hyster-Yale Maximal.
2023
The company unveils a new name for the Yale brand, Yale Lift Truck Technologies.
2024
The parent company, Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc., changes its name to Hyster-Yale, Inc., and the operating company adopts Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc., as its new name.
2025
Nuvera Fuel Cells, LLC is strategically realigned as a brand under Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc., now referred to as Nuvera, and part of the company’s new Energy Solutions Group.