ABOUT CASCADE
Cascade Corporation, founded in 1943, evolved from a modest machine shop to the global leader in the manufacturing of attachments, forks, masts, and related technologies for forklifts and AGVs. We also manufacture a variety of high-quality attachments for the construction industry.
With global headquarters in Portland, Oregon, and over 80 years of expertise, Cascade has developed a significant international presence, employing more than 3,000 people in more than 30 countries. This global reach gives Cascade teams the unique ability to collaborate across continents to meet customer needs anytime, anywhere while providing local service and support.
Cascade Timeline
Cascade Through the Years
1943
Cascade Manufacturing Company is founded with a total capital investment of $7,500 in Portland, Oregon as a small five-man machine shop machining and assembling stainless steel valves, pipe fittings and other components. Sales for the first year total $60,000.
1948
Number of employees rises to 40 and annual sales volume increases significantly. Cascade begins designing and producing hydraulic cylinders, launching an aggressive business expansion.
1952
Cascade enters the lift truck attachment business with a bale clamp at the 1952 materials handling show.
1956
A new 100,000 sq. ft. facility is completed in Fairview, Oregon, to house the company’s manufacturing and office operations – this building is now Cascade’s world headquarters.
1957-58
Cascade establishes the iconic eagle trademark. Total employment reaches 180.
1959
A second manufacturing plant, devoted primarily to manufacturing hydraulic cylinders, is opened in Springfield, Ohio.
Cascade Through the Years
1960
Cascade makes its first move into the international arena with a joint venture in Diemen, The Netherlands and the opening of wholly-owned subsidiaries in England and Australia.
1964
The company changes its name to Cascade Corporation and goes public with the sale of 200,000 shares. The initial public offering raises $1,000,000. Production facilities and corporate offices are expanded at Portland and new engineering test facilities are constructed.
1967
Cascade starts subsidiary operation in the republic of South Africa and acquires C.M. Scott Fluid Power, Ltd., a Canadian manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada near Toronto.
Approval is received from the Japanese government to form a wholly-owned subsidiary in Japan.
1974
A second European manufacturing plant is acquired in Hoorn, The Netherlands to meet growing European market demands. The Springfield, Ohio plant is expanded.
1978
Cascade marks 35 years in business and total employment stands at 1,330.
Cascade Through the Years
1980
A new manufacturing plant opens in Warner Robins, Georgia to meet the rapidly growing demand for sideshifters.
1982
Cascade New Zealand is established.
1985
A third European manufacturing facility is opened in Almelo, The Netherlands.
1987
A joint venture agreement is signed with Xiamen Head General Corporation to establish Xiamen Cascade Corporation, Ltd to produce and sell lift truck attachments in the Peoples Republic of China.
1988
A new mast manufacturing facility is opened in Westminister, South Carolina.
1990
Cascade Korea is established.
1994
Cascade moves attachment remanufacturing from Sandy, Oregon to the Mississauga facility.
1995-96
Company purchases Xiamen Head General Corporation’s interest in Xiamen Cascade, making it one of the early wholly-owned foreign enterprises.
1997
Cascade expands it’s product offerings dramatically with the acquisition of five companies, including Kenhar Corporation, the world’s largest manufacturer of lift truck forks, headquartered in Guelph, Canada. The acquisition of Kenhar adds fork manufacturing facilities in Findlay, Ohio; Guelph, Canada; Manchester, England; La Machine France; Brescia, Italy, and Hebei, China.
Cascade Through the Years
2002
Xiamen Cascade moves into a new, expanded manufacturing and headquarters facility in Xiamen, China.
2003
Cascade celebrates it’s 60th anniversary as well as a number of key acquisitions in the European market, including Roncari, a leading supplier of lift truck attachments to the Italian market. Cascade also acquires FEMA, a small fork manufacturer in Hagen, Germany.
2004
Cascade acquires German-based Falkenroth GmbH, Europe’s largest fork manufacturer.
2005
China becomes the third largest national lift truck market behind the United States and Japan. To sustain the current market position in the Chinese market, Cascade expands the capacity of Chinese fork facilities by opening a new fork manufacturing plant in Hebei, China.
2006
Cascade enters the construction attachment market with the acquisition of PSM in Woodinville, Washington and American Compaction Equipment, Inc. (ACE) in San Luis Obispo, California.
A new fork factory is opened in Xiamen, China to help serve the European fork market.
2007-09
European attachment operations are consolidated into the Verona, Italy, facility.
A small subsidiary operation is opened in India.
2010
A new construction plant is opened in Xiamen, China.
2012
Cascade establishes a subsidiary in Santos, Brazil to serve as the foundation of the planned expansion into the South American market.
2013
Cascade reinforces the Rental & Remanufactured services by adding another facility in Verona, Italy, and in Almere, The Netherlands, to serve northern Europe.
Cascade becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota Industries Corporation (TICO).
2014
Company announces the expansion of their Cascade Remanufacturing Center (CRC) in Mississauga, Ontario.
2015
Cascade Australia moves into new production facility.
A new manufacturing facility is opened in San Martino, Verona.
2018
Cascade celebrates 75 years in business.
2019
Cascade acquires large fork manufacturer, Scana Steel Booforge renamed Booforge Steel.
Cascade-KOOI® is established, a joint venture in North & Central America with Meijer Handling Solutions.
Cascade Through the Years
2020
Anval, based in Chile, became the exclusive distributor of Cascade products in most of Latin America except Brazil.
Cascade New Zealand moves into updated facility.
Cascade becomes exclusive distributor of KOOI product in Asia-Pacific.
2021
Successful acquisition of lift truck mast manufacturer Lift-Tek Elecar S.p.A. (Italy) and Lift Technologies, Inc. (USA).
Cascade total global employment reaches over 2,800.
2023
Cascade acquires attachment manufacturer, Loron, as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
OUR MISSION.
Cascade is the global leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of attachments, forks, masts and related technologies for lift trucks and AGVs and a supplier of quality attachments for the construction industry. Our products help a truck lift, sideshift, rotate, tilt, and clamp practically any load imaginable from appliances to paper rolls, bottles to textiles, crates, boxed goods and much more.
Extending our Success into the Future
As Cascade lays the groundwork for continued growth and success, our primary objectives are:
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Ensure customer satisfaction by continually improving the quality and value of Cascade products and services.
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Provide all employees with challenging and rewarding opportunities to utilize their talents and experience in contributing to our shared success.
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Earn a return on our capital that ensures the long-term financial health and viability of our Company.
Growing to meet customer needs
"If we are not moving ahead, we are falling behind." That's the premise behind Cascade Corporation's ambitious growth strategy, consisting of three main goals:
1. Broaden our product offerings
2. Provide manufacturing capabilities in target markets
3. Improve our global service and market share
OUR BRANDS.
Cascade's brand portfolio consists of four main divisions: Materials Handling Products (MHP), Forks, Masts, and Construction. Each Cascade brand ensures our commitment to innovation, excellence and customer satisfaction are met across the globe.
SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES.
Cascade is committed to environmental stewardship and sustainable practices. We continuously strive to minimize our carbon footprint through renewable resources, responsible manufacturing processes, waste reduction, and energy-efficient technologies.
Our Pledge
A 42% reduction in CO2 emissions or approximately 19,000 tons by 2031
Our Approach
1. Invest in renewable sources to generate energy onsite
2. Reduce energy usage by improving manufacturing efficiencies
3. Invest in energy efficient equipment and new technology in our manufacturing facilities
SOLAR
Cascade manufacturing facilities that have implemented solar panels in four different countries:
- Verona, Italy
- Darra, Australia
- Aukland, New Zealand
- Manchester, United King
UP NEXT
EIGHT manufacturing facilities are in the process
of implementing solar panels in the next 3 years.
Sustainability Profiles
Solar Panels
Installed in October 2020.
Reduced by half
Cascade Australia has cut CO2 emissions nearly in half since implementation.
Our Goal
120 ton CO2 reduction per year, equivalent to an average gasoline-powered car traveling 300k miles/480k kilometers.
Other Initiatives
Minimize waste and recycling onsite. Also part of the Australian government's 'ecoBiz' program that audits resource use and helps reduce water, waste and energy consumption.
Solar Panels
Installed in October 2023.
17 Tons
Offset of CO2 per year, equivalent to 1.1 million phone charges.
Our Goal
51% of electricity to be self-powered.
Other Initiatives
More efficient technologies have been implemented in the New Zealand facility, like a new Reman parts washer that recycles water.
Solar Panels
Installed in February 2024.
33 Tons
Of CO2 reduction within the first 6 months of solar panel
installation, equivalent to 2.1 million phone charges.
Our Goal
A reduction of 82 tons of CO2 per year - or the amount of CO2 captured by over 1,300 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
Other Initiatives
Implementation of new, more efficient equipment in the plant, like an eco-friendly compressor that further reduces energy use.
Solar Panels
Installed in June 2024.
18 Tons
Of CO2 reduction within the first 3 months of solar panel implementation - or 1.1 million smartphone charges.
Our Goal
A reduction of 130 tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to an average passenger car driving 531k kilometers/330k miles.
Other Initiatives
Eliminate single-use plastic water bottles at the plant with the implementation of a new water cooler dispenser.
OUR LEADERSHIP.
Davide Roncari
President & CEO
Bryn Sopko
Vice President - Human Resources
Pete Drake
Senior Vice President – Operations Americas
Clark Jordan
Vice President - Global Engineering
Denis Krauss
Vice President - Global Information Technology
Jason Hegdahl
Vice President - Global Finance
Udo Schmidt
Vice President - EuropeFor more information about Cascade Corporation, our products, or to discuss your material handling needs, please reach out to us — our team is standing by.