Forklift Photos

Toyota Material Handling UK was established in 2007 to manage the Toyota and BT material handling operations in the United Kingdom.

Toyota Material Handling UK is a regional organisation of the Toyota Material Handling Group which is part of Toyota Industries Corporation.

The Toyota and BT brands share a proud heritage with more than 60 years in the materials handling business. Key historical milestones include:



1926 Toyoda Automatic Loom Works (later Toyota Industries Corporation) founded

1946 BT founded

1948 First BT hand pallet truck

1954 First BT service centres in Sweden

1956 First Toyota counterbalance forklift truck produced

1958 BT begins exporting manual stackers

1965 First Toyota counterbalance forklift truck sold in Europe

1968 BT factory opens in Mjölby, Sweden

1978 BT introduces driverless truck

1983 BT launches first 48-volt reach truck

1987 Toyota Industrial Equipment starts forklift assembly in Ancenis, France

1996 Production starts at Toyota Industrial Equipment SA (TIESA) forklift factory in Ancenis, France

2000 BT Industries joins the Toyota family

2001 TIESA factory receives ISO 14001 certification for class leading environmental management

2001 Toyota Industries Corporation becomes the world leader in materials handling equipment

2004 Mjölby factory receives ISO 14001 certification for class leading environmental management

2005 Toyota Material Handling Europe is established

2005 Toyota exhibits first hydrogen fuel cell forklift prototype at CeMat

2006 Bologna factory, Italy receives ISO 14001 certification for class leading environmental management

2006 60th anniversary of BT materials handling equipment

2006 50th anniversary of first Toyota forklift