Hoist's Bedford Park, Illinois headquarters.

What are your company's products/services?

Hoist Liftruck Mfg Inc based in Bedford Park, Illinois, engineers and manufactures heavy-duty forklifts ranging in capacities from 6.7 tons to 50 tons for a wide range of industries, including the concrete, paper, steel, aluminium, marina and automotive sectors.

Hoist's 200,000 square foot (18,581 square metre) headquarters houses manufacturing, parts, service and administrative operations. Hoist is the largest manufacturer of cushion-tyre forklifts, including the Titan Series, the FKS Series and the Lazer Electric Series and it is a leader in pneumatic-tyre forklifts, which include the P-Series and the new Neptune Marina Series. Hoist also manufactures die handlers, burden carriers, AGVs, industrial trailers and tow tractors.

Give a brief history of your company's involvement in the materials handling industry.

Hoist evolved from humble beginnings. In 1980, Hoist president and owner Marty Flaska, started Forklift Exchange from his house in the western suburbs of Chicago, specialising in buying, selling and renting materials handling equipment. Over the next decade, the company grew enormously and, in 1994, Flaska acquired the rights to build cushion-tyre forklifts from Silent Hoist and Crane located in Brooklyn, New York and Millford, Connecticut.

Marty Flaska then moved both businesses back to Illinois where he transformed Silent Hoist and Crane into Hoist Liftruck Mfg Inc. In a few years, Hoist became the preferred vendor for high-capacity cushion-tyre forklifts for the automotive, steel and aluminium industries. In 1998, Hoist moved operations to Bedford Park to accommodate its expansion. Hoist acquired Elwell-Parker, Cleveland, Ohio, in 2000, and Schreck and Autolift, Bucyrus, Ohio in 2001.

What is your company's current position in the regional market? How about globally?

A Titan Series cushion-tyre forklift

Hoist is the largest manufacturer of cushion-tyre forklifts, serving the steel, aluminium, automotive and paper industries and it is a leader in pneumatic-tyre forklifts for the concrete and steel industries. It is the preferred forklift company for many high-profile US companies in the automotive, container and steel industries. Globally, Hoist has worked with customers in the United Kingdom, China, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Canada and Turkey.

What makes your company outstanding in its market?

Hoist forklifts are designed for superior operator comfort, manoeuvrability and durability. Hoist prides itself on unmatched delivery times, with most forklifts delivered in eight weeks or less. Hoist provides 24-hour service and parts support, and same-day shipping on parts. Hoist's worldwide dealer network offers sales, parts and service support.

Tell us your company's future plans.

The P-Series pneumatic forklift.

Hoist continues to build on its success by researching and engineering forklifts to meet the most demanding applications, while increasing operator comfort. Hoist is focused on maintaining its relationships, educating its customers on what to look for in a forklift for specific applications, and meeting them to evaluate their needs. This includes educating marinas across the world on the new Neptune Series Marina Liftruck, the newest Hoist product in 2006.