British-manufactured forklift trucks produced by the market leading brand Yale have been operating in the Gulf since the earliest days of oil exploration and have shared in the more recent economic growth and development.

Yale was founded in 1844 when Linus Yale Jr from Connecticut invented the pin-tumbler cylinder lock and gave his name to a wide range of engineered products, from keys to forklift trucks. The earliest examples of Yale materials-handling equipment were first manufactured in the USA in 1875 and later in the UK when Yale opened its factory in Wednesfield in the West Midlands in the1930s.
The development of palletised loads during the Second World War made the use of forklift trucks much more common, with manufacturing and shipping companies recog-nising the benefits of handling pallets with forks for more efficient load handling.

Yale the pioneer
Yale has been at the forefront of materials-handling development in the Gulf since the first lift trucks were used to assist unloading equipment on the dockside and moving plant around oilfield stores.
The rapid development of commerce and trading companies throughout the Gulf in the seventies meant more lift trucks were being used for handling and storing goods in warehouses. At this time forklift trucks were still predominantly diesel powered counterbalance trucks, with smaller hand operated pallet trucks being used inside stores.
With the establishment of local defence forces in the Gulf countries, large warehouses for military stores were built requiring warehouse trucks as well as counterbalance trucks. This set the standard for new warehouse builds in the eighties and the larger importers started to use dedicated trucks like the Yale MR reach truck for storing and retrieving goods in purpose built distribution warehouses.
The emergence of the free-trade zones gave a further boost to the materials-handling market as overseas investors sought to maximise efficiency and the first narrow aisle stores were constructed to meet the demand for more efficient space utilisation inside warehouses.

Gulf Dealers
Yale has been fortunate in forming long lasting relationships with its dealers in the Gulf counties. Many of Yale’s Middle East dealers have worked with the company for many, building a successful business and dedicated group of Yale customers.
Today, the latest developments demand the highest specification for al types of materials-handling equipment, from airports to retail stores and ports to large distribution centres. The full range of Yale counterbalance trucks and the latest battery operated AC powered electric trucks and order pickers can be seen in a variety of applications. There is also a thriving market for used trucks, some are used by local traders whilst many are re-exported to other markets in Asia.
In 2005 Yale chose Dubai as the location for its Gulf office and to launch its latest Veracitor VX range of 1.6 to 3, 5 tonne capacity lift trucks. Veracitor means ‘the whole truth’ which was at the heart of the sales message to Gulf customers looking for well engineered, robust and reliable lift trucks. The proven design and high performance in arduous conditions appealed to the local market and record sales of Yale trucks have resulted.

High Performance
Yale has set new standards of performance and ergonomic design with the launch of the 6-7 tonne capacity Veracitor VX model. Customers in the timber, steel and aluminium, concrete, ports and allied industries can now take advantage of a product that has been specifically designed with their applications in mind.
Yale’s GDP/GLP 60-70VX series is the latest addition to the highly successful Veracitor range. It has been designed to meet the demands of customers through increased productivity, world class ergonomics, lowest cost of ownership and improved serviceability.
Offered with a choice of diesel or LPG engines in 6,000 and 7,000kg capacities, the GDP/GLP60-70VX is designed for intensive operation in the most demanding Gulf applications.   
Into the future
The lift truck business is increasingly global and Yale as part of the market leading NACCO Materials Handling Group is a market leader in all the major markets, of which the Middle East is becoming increasingly sophisticated in its approach to materials-handling and distribution techniques.
Whilst it is still possible to see goods being unloaded by hand from traditional dhows, most goods arriving or departing from the Gulf are containerised and broken down into unit loads for ease of customer use. Yale trucks can be seen in a wide variety of these applications, both inside and outdoors, in summer and winter.
Reliability and serviceability has always been a prerequisite for successful lift truck applications in the Gulf and Yale has established an excellent reputation for both, which is why customers seeking the best lift trucks in the world are putting Yale at the top of their list.