GREENVIILLE, N.C. - Hyster Company celebrates its 80th year as a lift truck manufacturer this year. Hyster Company was born when Willamette Iron & Steel, originally a lumber carrier manufacturer, merged with two other companies in 1929 to form a new company named Willamette Ersted. The name was eventually changed to Hyster Company, a reference to laborers shouting "Hoist 'er!" when a load was ready to be lifted.

Since introducing a smaller lift truck in 1941 and moving into the container handling market in 1959, Hyster Company now offers 130 models of lift trucks configured for gasoline, LPG, diesel, or electric power, with the widest capacity range in the industry - 2,000 lb to 115,000 lb.

Hyster Company continues to add to its line with this year's introduction of the E45-70XN, a totally electric, AC product that provides energy efficiency and ideal productivity capabilities. Hyster Company also continues to pursue the commercial development of alternate energy sources, including lithium ion battery technology, advanced energy storage devices, and hydrogen fuel cells.