Forklift manufacturer Hyster-Yale Group celebrates 40 years in Craigavon with multi-million expansion

Hyster-Yale Group is celebrating 40 years of manufacturing lift trucks at its plant in Craigavon with a multi-million dollar site expansion.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The Craigavon facility, which opened in 1981, was built and equipped with the most up-to-date robot systems and equipment.

Over the years the plant has grown, and now manufactures thousands of forklifts each year for export throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It employs hundreds of people from the local area and is recruiting dozens more as the site expands in preparation for future manufacturing demands and new product lines.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jim Downey, Plant Manager for Hyster-Yale Group EMEA in Craigavon said: “The success of our plant at Craigavon is driven by our incredible people who have worked together to conquer challenges, embrace new opportunities, and maintain forward momentum. With our site expansion and talented team, we are excited to be laying the foundations for the next 40 years of success.”

Jim Downey, Plant Manager for Hyster-Yale Group EMEA and Kevin Holland, Invest NI’s CEO outside Hyster-Yale in CraigavonJim Downey, Plant Manager for Hyster-Yale Group EMEA and Kevin Holland, Invest NI’s CEO outside Hyster-Yale in Craigavon
Jim Downey, Plant Manager for Hyster-Yale Group EMEA and Kevin Holland, Invest NI’s CEO outside Hyster-Yale in Craigavon

Kevin Holland, Invest NI’s CE, continued: “I would like to personally congratulate Jim and all the team at Hyster-Yale for 40 successful years in Northern Ireland. Hyster-Yale has embedded itself in the very heart of the Craigavon business landscape, invested in its staff and embraced modern manufacturing techniques. In doing so, it has developed successful globally renowned products and placed Northern Ireland right at the heart of a truly world class multinational manufacturing company. The company’s new expansion is a testament to its future commitment to Northern Ireland and we look forward to continuing our support and partnership over the next 40 years and beyond.”

The company has invested millions of dollars over the past two years developing the factory, which incorporates leading technologies and automated systems. The new 60,000 sq. ft. extension to the factory will be known as the Sands Building, in honour of Harry Sands, former Senior VP and Managing Director, EMEA, for Hyster-Yale Group, who retired in 2020 after 40 years with the company, most recently based in Craigavon.

It has been built with environmental specifications in mind, as the site aims to reduce carbon emissions by 30%, in addition to realising targets for reducing water consumption, waste, and landfill. The latest plant extension also incorporates an environmentally friendly Sustainable Urban Drainage System, and the plant continues it commitment to biodiversity.

A message from the Editor:

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Thank you