Excellence from Småland
The world’s heartland of lift trucks
The province of Småland, in southern Sweden, is the world’s heartland of heavy-duty lift trucks. Småland has a greater concentration of heavy-duty lift truck companies, history, heritage, craftsmanship and passion for the industry than any other part of the world.
Småland became the world’s heartland of heavy-duty lift trucks thanks to its wood industry and the pragmatic nature of its hard-working people. Småland is agriculturally poor but rich in trees: 50% of its surface area is covered by forest. Wood has been an essential part of the province’s economy for hundreds of years.
Motorized tractors were first used by Smålanders in the 1890s and 1900s. Some were adapted for wood harvesting by adding home-made masts and forks. By the 1930s, local entrepreneurs were making and selling lift trucks for logging and stacking, showing considerable ingenuity.
Those rough-and-ready early lift trucks were trailblazers, driving the productivity and profitability of their owners’ businesses. By the 1970s, Småland boasted a number of important lift truck companies doing business across Scandinavia, Europe and the world.
Leading the way
The history of Konecranes Lift Trucks dates back to the 1950s and the beginning of the modern era of the lift truck business. In 1959 our first lift truck was shipped from our factory in southern Sweden. We put our heart into that first delivery, making the truck with great care and craftsmanship.
Today, over half a century later, our attitude is exactly the same. We have worked hard to provide each of our customers with lift trucks that are built for the world they are working in, regardless of industry, lifting capacity or other challenges. Our mission is to find that perfect match, even if it requires us to go to the drawing table and design a brand new solution.
We now sell and service our lift trucks all over the world as part of Konecranes, the world's leading provider of smarter lifting equipment and service. Visit our production facilities and you'll find a close-knit community of people with a common passion: making the hardest-working, longest-lived lift trucks in the world.
Konecranes is leading the way from the world’s heartland of lift trucks.