CLARK began the Material Handling Industry in 1917 by manufacturing the CLARK Truc-Tractor. Presently, there are over 250,000 CLARK lift trucks operating in North America and 350,000 units operating worldwide. Worldwide, CLARK has one of the broadest product lines in the Material Handling Industry with five major lines. Lift Trucks ranging from 1,500 to 18,000 pound capacities, LPG, gasoline, dual fuel, diesel, narrow-aisle stackers, electric riders and powered hand trucks. For the past nine decades, CLARK has been one of the Material Handling Industry's most progressive and responsive manufacturers, continuously seeking innovative ways to improve product, expand service and provide value to its customers.
At CLARK Safety is a Design Element, not an Afterthought! At CLARK we are COMMITTED TO SAFETY!!!
CLARK continues to be an industry leader with innovative product development, including safety features such as the Operator Restraint Systems, Rear Posts on Stand-Up Riders, and Operator Presence for Traction and Hydraulic Circuits pioneered by CLARK and adopted as a standard feature on all forklift trucks.
The list below outlines CLARKs commitment to research, development, design, and implementation of features that have increased both the Operator and the safe operation of the Lift Truck.
- 1924 A Mechanical Manual Tiering Attachment is added to the CLARK Duat and it becomes a Lift Truck, ending the manual labor needed to stack heavy materials.
- 1928 The CLARK Tructier adds Hydraulics to the Tiering Attachment which is now permanently mounted. The Hydraulic Circuits for the Tiering Attachment reduces both the labor required and the strain on the Operator and increasing the smooth operation of the Tructier.
- 1943 CLARK adds Operator and Safe Operation Decals as a standard feature on all CLARK Lift Trucks.
- 1951 CLARK introduced the First Formalized Lift Truck Operator Training Program.
- 1964 CLARK begins installing Overhead Guards and Load Backrest Extensions which become a Material Handling Industry Standard in 1967.
- 1982 CLARK begins installing Rear Overhead Guard Posts as standard equipment on all Stand-up Rider Lift Trucks in order to aid in decreasing serious injuries from objects entering the Operator Compartment.Most other manufacturers only offer Rear Overhead Guard Posts as an option.
- 1983 CLARK begins installing an Operator Restraint System on all Sit Down Forklifts.
- The Operator Restraint System becomes a Material Handling Industry Standard in 1993.
- 1990 CLARK delivers a copy of “The Employers Guide to Material Handling Safety” to all currently known Customers and also begins delivering it with every new Forklift.
- 1990 CLARK no longer approves the use of Work Baskets on CLARK Forklifts.Most other manufacturers have followed CLARKs example even though it is permitted under the strict guidelines in ANSI/ITSDF B56.1.
- 1998 CLARK begins delivering a CD/DVD on Safe Lift Truck Operation with every New Forklift.
- 2006 CLARK begins installing Operator Presence for the Traction Circuits on all new Forklifts. This feature disables Lift Truck travel when the Operator is not in the Operating Position. This feature becomes a Material Handling Industry Standard in 2009.
- 2011 CLARK begins installing Operator Presence for Hydraulic Functions on all New Forklifts. This Feature disables the Hydraulic Functions of the Upright/Mast when the Operator is not in the Operating Position. This feature becomes a Material Handling Industry Standard in 2013.
As we move into the future CLARKs commitment to safety will continue to be a key element in our new product design and development. At CLARK our Safety and Value Engineering Program, along with our Product Engineers and Suppliers work together to minimize costs and, at the same time, improve the Safety, Quality, and Efficiency of our Lift Truck Product Lines.