The opening of CLARK's history hall

CLARK Material Handling Inc has opened a history hall at its American headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky. The exhibition highlights over 100 years of history of CLARK Material Handling Company and its contributions to the materials handling industry.

Dennis Lawrence, president and CEO of CLARK Material Handling, North America, oversaw the development of the CLARK history hall. He explains: "History and invention are the cornerstones of our company’s legacy.  This history hall chronicles the essence our impact has had on the global forklift market.  We have captured elements of the company’s entire story, from historical documents to never before seen pictures. This facility is dedicated to the generations of people that transformed CLARK into the global company it is today.  We are proud of our heritage and this hall celebrates all that we have accomplished.  We look forward to sharing its contents with dealers and customers during visits to Lexington."

The museum features a number of significant artefacts dating back to the start of the materials handling industry in 1917.  Highlights of the history hall include a replica of Eugene Clark’s office, including his original, personal company corporate seal.  Also on display is a timeline of CLARK innovations and contributions to the materials handling industry as a whole. Exhibits include a Tructractor, literature from over the decades, photos and a wide variety of marketing collateral utilised by CLARK and its dealers to promote the company’s goods and services.

"The CLARK history hall is a valuable recognition of the company’s storied past. A nod … to the many innovations and contributions its people and products have made to the materials handling industry," says Scott Johnson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, CLARK Material Handling Company. "In this room is a timeline of not only CLARK but how products and goods are moved by the materials handling industry today.  The company’s overall impact on materials handling, including people, programs, technical innovations and product design, is impressive."

The museum will be updated frequently as new content is processed from the archives and dealers’ submissions.  "We are continuously creating new history and receiving material from the outside; as such, we will routinely be adding new content to this facility," continues Johnson. "This constant refreshment of displayed items will ensure that each time you visit the history hall, you will see something new."

CLARK claims to have built the first petrol-powered materials handling truck in 1917.