This year marks a significant milestone for Fork Force, as we celebrate 25 years of dedicated service in the materials handling industry.

Reaching this quarter-century mark provides us with an opportunity to reflect on our journey – to acknowledge the invaluable experiences that have shaped our company, and to look forward to the future with renewed enthusiasm and ambition.

But first – how did we get here?

How have the past 25 years shaped the Fork Force business today?

Beginning in 1999 as Fork Source, co-founders Steve Cunliffe and Adrian Martin had a vision to build a new business model – a forklift industry disruptor as a wholesale sub-hire business. After some early success, the opportunity arose to acquire their first business that specialised in the import of used forklifts from Japan – kickstarting their transition into becoming a used forklift dealer.

By 2007, Fork Force began its expansion into new equipment sales with the launch of its Italian made Pramac electric walkie stacker range.

In 2008, Steve’s sons, Chris and Brock, joined the business and helped expand the business’ market reach. By 2010, Fork Force was selling forklifts nationally around Australia.

Its growing success resulted in more customers requesting high quality, great value forklifts, designed for Australian conditions and meeting Australian standards. This led to the launch of the ENFORCER brand in 2010.

Today, the Enforcer brand has grown into a comprehensive product range, a veritable “one stop shop” for all your forklift needs – including the market leading 5 Year Parts & Labour warranty on most new Enforcer equipment.

EXPANDING NATIONWIDE

Fork Force’s operations have grown markedly over the years. From humble beginnings in Brisbane, it took 13 years to expand to Toowoomba in 2011, before promptly opening in Melbourne in 2014, the acquisition of Hystandard in 2018 saw Fork Force begin its operations in Sydney. The Lencrow acquisition followed soon after in 2019, giving Fork Force additional operational reach into the Adelaide and Newcastle markets. This continued growth has culminated with the greenfield expansion into Perth in 2024.

Global Recognition and Industry Leadership

Meanwhile in 2017, Nishio Rent All in Japan, one of the largest equipment rental companies in the world, were impressed by Fork Force’s fast-growing business, and decided to invest alongside its Australian directors.

Today, Fork Force is one of the only forklift companies in over 50 years to ever win the coveted Hire & Rental Industry Association Award for Australia’s Best Rental Company. 15 years after the first Enforcer was sold, Fork Force now sells over 2,000 Enforcer forklifts a year and has a 4,000 strong hire fleet.

A Journey of Growth and Change

Fork Force’s growth over the last 25 years has been marked by several milestones, including acquisitions and significant business growth, however the path to success has not always been smooth. The journey has been punctuated by lessons learned, many times from our own mistakes. These experiences, however, have been vital in refining our business strategies and improving our product and service offerings. They have also reinforced our commitment to providing exceptional value to our customers.

Through both triumphs and challenges, we have remained steadfast in our dedication to delivering cost-effective materials handling solutions, high-quality parts, comprehensive customer service, and robust warranty guarantees.

Delivering Value to Our Customers

At the heart of Fork Force’s philosophy over our 25 years in business has been our unwavering focus on providing superior value to our customers. To us, value is not just about competitive pricing, but also in equal parts encompasses quality, reliability, and support.

In this vein, our approach to adding value is multifaceted:

Cost-Effective Products: We strive to offer products that meet the highest standards of performance while remaining affordable. This balance ensures that our customers receive the best possible return on their investment.
Tried and Tested Solutions: We test the durability and reliability of new products by implementing them in our own hire fleet.
Quality Parts Supply: We guarantee the durability and efficiency of the equipment we provide.
Complete Customer Lifecycle: From initial consultation through to post-purchase support, our comprehensive customer experience ensures that our customers’ needs are met throughout the lifecycle of their forklift.
Market-Leading Warranties: We provide a 5-year parts and labour warranty on all our new Enforcer forklifts as standard. Our warranties provide peace of mind, assuring customers of our confidence in the quality and reliability of our products.
Independent Supply: We have partnerships with multiple manufacturers to maintain a robust supply chain, further enhancing our ability to offer competitive prices and quality.
Wide Range: We supply a wide range of materials handling solutions to suit a variety of businesses. We are a one stop shop for all your materials handling needs.
Flexible Ownership Options: We pride ourselves on being able to provide a variety of flexible ownership options to suit every budget and business.
Customisation: We offer our customers the ability to customise their forklift to ensure they are fit for purpose.

This core principle of providing superior value at every opportunity has guided our operations and decision-making processes, and it is something we will continue to treat as our North Star over the years to come.

Catering For the Full Range of Forklift Needs

One area where we truly stand apart from the rest of the industry is our full range of products and services for every forklift need. When you choose Fork Force, you are accessing the full suite: new machines and used machines, forklift sales and hire, parts, and servicing.

There are many providers that have a singular focus, whether it be as a used forklift dealer or forklift hire fleet. But we are one of very few operations that can meet any and every forklift need you might have and do it well. And not only do we provide sales, long and short-term hire, parts, and servicing – but we do it across our nationwide branch network.

This means that no matter your location – as your operation grows or your fleet needs change, you are covered when you work with Fork Force!

Looking to the Future

While we have been celebrating 25 years of success, we are certainly not resting on our laurels. The future of Fork Force is filled with exciting possibilities. We are committed to further developing our product range, enhancing our current services, and exploring new markets to ensure we can meet the ever-changing needs of our customers, while maintaining the core values that have defined our success.

Thank you to all our loyal customers, dedicated team members, and partners for being part of this incredible 25-year journey.

Here’s to the next 25 years.