Cat Lift Trucks

Over eighty years ago, a man named Lester M. Sears decided it might be a good idea to adapt a farm tractor for industrial use. His ‘Model L’‚ may look a bit funny now, but it was packed with new ideas - and it totally transformed materials handling forever.

Lester’s first fork lift truck featured innovations that have become standard in the lift truck industry, including under-the-load front wheel drive, rear-wheel steering, hydraulic lifting and tilting and equal high-speed forward and reverse gears.

In 1965 Caterpillar acquired the company Lester started - Towmotor – and formed Cat Lift Trucks. We like to think we’re direct descendants of Lester’s, sharing the same commitment to new ideas, practical solutions and legendary reliability (that Model L prototype worked hard for 30 years before finally retiring).

In 1992 Caterpillar formed a joint venture with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Ltd to combine technological, financial and marketing strengths in the production of materials handling equipment. Since that time we have operated from corporate headquarters in Almere, the Netherlands.

Today, Cat® forklifts and warehouse equipment are among the best-built trucks in the business. Our range includes diesel, petrol, LPG, electric counter-balanced forklifts, as well as a complete range of warehouse equipment.

Over eighty years ago, a man named Lester M. Sears decided it might be a good idea to adapt a farm tractor for industrial use. His ‘Model L’‚ may look a bit funny now, but it was packed with new ideas - and it totally transformed materials handling forever.

Lester’s first fork lift truck featured innovations that have become standard in the lift truck industry, including under-the-load front wheel drive, rear-wheel steering, hydraulic lifting and tilting and equal high-speed forward and reverse gears.

In 1965 Caterpillar acquired the company Lester started - Towmotor – and formed Cat Lift Trucks. We like to think we’re direct descendants of Lester’s, sharing the same commitment to new ideas, practical solutions and legendary reliability (that Model L prototype worked hard for 30 years before finally retiring).

In 1992 Caterpillar formed a joint venture with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Ltd to combine technological, financial and marketing strengths in the production of materials handling equipment. Since that time we have operated from corporate headquarters in Almere, the Netherlands.

Today, Cat® forklifts and warehouse equipment are among the best-built trucks in the business. Our range includes diesel, petrol, LPG, electric counter-balanced forklifts, as well as a complete range of warehouse equipment. And they’re all backed by the best dealers in the business - your local Cat® lift trucks dealers - as well as over 80 years of real world experience.