Forkliftaction turns 25

News Story
- 10 Jul 2025 ( #1238 ) - Brisbane, QLD, Australia
2 min read
Forkliftaction founder Michael Leu
Forkliftaction founder Michael Leu

Brisbane-based Forkliftaction turns 25 this week, having been started by former forklift dealer Michael Leu, as a global digital news service for the materials handling sector.

In the quarter of a century since the independent publication’s launch - the first newsletter was sent to 50 recipients - Forkliftaction has grown into a wide-ranging digital business platform and a trusted voice in the industry, and now has more than 73,000 opt-in subscribers who receive the news edition by email every week.

Forkliftaction’s Discussion Forums, which received a significant update in June, have proven particularly popular over the years and now receive 98,000 visits each week with industry participants posing questions and receiving helpful information.

Leu, who sold forklifts for 15 years and now serves as executive director of Forkliftaction, says of the impetus to establish the news service: “As a business manager, I needed diverse information quickly”. 

“I managed equipment sales and large rental fleets and serviced clients using different brands of forklifts, container handlers and port equipment,” Leu continues. “I wanted to know where sales markets were, what buyers wanted, and where to find alternate suppliers of spare parts at the best prices.

“As an importer and exporter of new and used equipment, I needed to know what was going on in my industry, where to find used equipment and what new product distribution opportunities were available. I also wanted to know about trade events around the world.”

This set the template for Forkliftaction News which has maintained this approach since its beginning.

CEO Ann Hofmans adds: “We are very proud of the publication we produce each week and of our position as a valued and trusted news outlet and source of information. We are looking forward to continuing our journey and have many exciting new projects in the pipeline that will keep evolving our platform with the latest developments in our industry”. 

Read more about Forkliftaction's 25th anniversary celebrations.

Do you have materials handling news? Submit your news here

Showcased in the Virtual Expo

Since July 2000, Forkliftaction News has been your guide to the developments that are shaping your industry.

Starting today we are also looking back on some of the key news stories from our extensive news archive.

In the news email and on the website, you'll see links to stories that were 'leading our news' multiple years ago, with topics spanning world-first products, big acquisitions, and major industry shifts.
We hope you enjoy this unique insight into the materials handling industry!

Words of support …

These releases in Forkliftaction are a nice experience for SNDC... We got seven inquiries coming from Canada, USA, Mexico, Israel and Australia (five from retailers, two from machines manufacturers) and we are still in contact with them. I can state that's a success story!

David Massat, Sales Director OEM and Export

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET

It’s the year 2000. You’re in front of a boxy beige desktop waiting for the screeching ramblings of your dial-up to reach its finale. You go to Yahoo!, MSN, or maybe AOL, and start the mind-numbing process of finding your very specific needle in the digital haystack. And with web pages loading one image at a time, patience isn’t just a virtue – it’s a requirement!

As clumsy as this early iteration seems now, this technology was the great enabler that allowed Forkliftaction to connect to the industry across the globe.  

To everyone who has connected with Forkliftaction in the past 25 years, thank you for your contribution to our success! We feel deeply touched by your words of encouragement.

What has Forkliftaction meant to you? Drop us a line.

PREMIUM business

BSL New Energy Technology Co., Ltd
BSLBATT - practical expertise and excellent design in the industrial lithium-ion battery market.

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET

Are you recruiting? Find your ideal candidate among a diverse range of materials handling professionals:

Forkliftaction's JOB MARKET

It’s the year 2000. You’re in front of a boxy beige desktop waiting for the screeching ramblings of your dial-up to reach its finale. You go to Yahoo!, MSN, or maybe AOL, and start the mind-numbing process of finding your very specific needle in the digital haystack. And with web pages loading one image at a time, patience isn’t just a virtue – it’s a requirement!

As clumsy as this early iteration seems now, this technology was the great enabler that allowed Forkliftaction to connect to the industry across the globe.  

To everyone who has connected with Forkliftaction in the past 25 years, thank you for your contribution to our success! We feel deeply touched by your words of encouragement.

What has Forkliftaction meant to you? Drop us a line.