Top 20 lift truck suppliers

The lift truck industry spent the better part of 2009 stalled out. In last year’s Top 20 lift truck suppliers story, Modern reported “the fourth quarter [of 2008] saw sales come to a screeching halt.”

Unfortunately, that trend continued for the next four fiscal quarters; worldwide lift truck revenue for 2009 went in reverse, contracting by 39%. But before you read on about last year’s industry woes, know this: Things appear to be turning around in 2010. In fact, Jeff Rufener, president of the Industrial Truck Association (ITA, 202-296-9880) and vice president of marketing for Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift of America (MCFA, 713-365-1000), says, “last year we thought things couldn’t get any worse. The industry bumped modern special report started to show some increase.”