Search for forklift manufacturers in China and you will find names such as HELI, Hangcha, BYD and EP Equipment, alongside warehouse-equipment specialists and construction-machinery groups. Their catalogs overlap, but they serve different combinations of jobs. A warehouse replacing pallet trucks and reach trucks has different needs from a yard buying diesel forklifts or a terminal handling containers.
This overview introduces eight companies and brands, covering their backgrounds, forklift ranges and related material-handling equipment. For an overseas buyer, understanding what each company makes helps turn a long list into a useful shortlist. Each profile includes official links for further reading.
Published by CSTAR Machinery. Other companies are listed alphabetically, with CSTAR last; this is a product-range overview, not a ranking or company-size comparison.
Chinese Forklift Manufacturers at a Glance
The table summarizes selected categories from the companies’ published product ranges. The profiles below explain their backgrounds and how those products fit into their wider businesses.
| Company or Brand | Selected Product Categories | Business Context |
|---|---|---|
| BYD | Electric forklifts, pallet trucks and tow tractors | Material handling within a battery and vehicle business |
| EP Equipment | Electric forklifts, pallet trucks, stackers and warehouse trucks | Lithium-powered warehouse-equipment focus |
| Hangcha | Electric and internal-combustion forklifts, warehouse trucks and port equipment | Broad industrial-truck portfolio |
| HELI | Electric and internal-combustion forklifts, warehouse equipment and heavy forklifts | Industrial trucks and logistics equipment |
| LiuGong | Internal-combustion and electric forklifts, rough-terrain forklifts and reach stackers | Dedicated forklift business within the LiuGong group |
| Lonking | Electric and diesel forklifts | Forklifts alongside construction machinery |
| Noblelift | Forklifts, reach trucks, pallet trucks, stackers and automated guided vehicles | Material-handling equipment and system integration |
| CSTAR Machinery | Electric and diesel forklifts, rough-terrain forklifts, stackers and pallet trucks | Material-handling equipment and compact machinery |
Forklift Manufacturers in China: Company Profiles
BYD: Electric Forklifts Built Around Battery Technology
BYD began as a battery company in 1995, and that background remains central to its material-handling business. Its electric forklifts use lithium iron phosphate batteries, with the truck, battery and charger developed as an integrated system.
The North American range includes counterbalance forklifts, cushion-tire forklifts, electric pallet trucks and tow tractors. Published examples include the ECB 30/35 counterbalance trucks, the ECC 32 cushion-tire forklift and the T 50 tow tractor. These are examples from the regional catalog; model availability can differ between markets.
Battery management and charging receive substantial attention in BYD’s forklift information. That gives its company profile a clear electric-power emphasis, alongside the different truck designs. See the official BYD Material Handling website for its North American equipment range and technology information.
EP Equipment: Lithium-Powered Forklifts and Warehouse Trucks
EP Equipment is based in Hangzhou and focuses on lithium-powered material-handling equipment. Its range extends from compact electric pallet trucks to counterbalance forklifts and specialized warehouse vehicles, covering several stages of pallet movement and storage.
The catalog includes pedestrian and ride-on pallet trucks, electric stackers, three-wheel forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers, very narrow aisle trucks and tow tractors. It also lists autonomous mobile robots, or AMRs, and an internal-combustion forklift category.
EP’s development history records the launch of the L1 forklift series in 2017 and the EFL302 in 2020. Its wider group includes automation and energy businesses, which help explain the prominence of lithium batteries and automation in its product presentation. Further background and product categories appear on the official EP Equipment company page.
Hangcha: Counterbalance Trucks, Warehouse Equipment and Port Machinery
Hangcha Group was founded in 1956 and listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2016. Its business covers industrial trucks ranging from pallet-handling equipment to heavy forklifts and container-handling machinery.
The forklift portfolio includes internal-combustion and electric counterbalance trucks, with separate categories for lithium-powered equipment. Warehouse products include pallet trucks, stackers, reach trucks, order pickers and very narrow aisle trucks. Hangcha also lists side loaders, rough-terrain trucks, empty container handlers and reach stackers.
Automation is another part of the range, with automated guided vehicles, or AGVs, alongside AMRs. Its published new-energy portfolio includes lithium-ion, high-voltage lithium-ion and hydrogen fuel-cell trucks. The official Hangcha company profile outlines its history and product lines.
HELI: Industrial Trucks and Logistics Equipment
HELI’s history begins with the establishment of Hefei Mining Machinery Factory in 1958. The business later became Hefei Forklift Factory, followed by the establishment of Anhui Forklift Group in 1992. Anhui Heli Co., Ltd. listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 1996.
The HELI range includes internal-combustion forklifts, electric and lithium-ion forklifts, warehouse equipment, narrow aisle trucks, heavy forklifts and tow tractors. Cushion-tire and rough-terrain models appear as separate categories, while AGVs form part of its logistics offering.
HELI also presents equipment applications for automotive manufacturing, cold-chain logistics, foundries and stone handling. Its history records the development of regional businesses in Europe, Southeast Asia, the Americas and the Middle East. Read the official HELI company history and product overview for further detail.
LiuGong: Forklifts, Rough-Terrain Trucks and Container Handling
Liuzhou LiuGong Forklift Co., Ltd. was established in 2007 and is based in Liuzhou, Guangxi. It operates as a dedicated industrial-vehicle business within the LiuGong group, covering forklift development, manufacturing and sales.
Its published range includes internal-combustion counterbalance forklifts, electric forklifts, warehouse trucks and tow tractors. Rough-terrain forklifts and reach stackers extend the portfolio into outdoor and container-handling applications.
The company’s application pages cover logistics, paper, wood, recycling, building materials, foundries and steel, as well as railway and port operations. This industrial coverage is a distinct part of its profile: forklifts appear alongside equipment for heavier materials and containers. The official LiuGong Forklift website brings together its company information, equipment categories and industry applications.
Lonking: Electric and Diesel Forklifts Within a Machinery Group
Lonking was founded in Longyan, Fujian, in 1993 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2005. Unlike companies whose catalogs center on warehouse trucks, Lonking operates across several construction-machinery categories.
Its group website lists electric and diesel forklifts alongside wheel loaders, excavators, road rollers, skid steer loaders and compact track loaders. Lonking (Shanghai) Forklift Co., Ltd. is identified as a group company, giving the forklift business a distinct place within that wider organization.
Lonking represents the construction-machinery-group side of this overview. Its forklift categories sit within a catalog that also serves earthmoving and site-equipment needs. The official Lonking company history explains the group’s background, while its global website provides access to the electric and diesel forklift ranges.
Noblelift: Material-Handling Equipment and Warehouse Systems
Noblelift was established in 2000 and is headquartered in Changxing, Zhejiang. The company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2015. Its business is organized around two areas: material-handling equipment and system integration.
The equipment range runs from hand pallet trucks and manual stackers to electric pallet trucks, electric stackers, counterbalance forklifts, reach trucks, order pickers and very narrow aisle equipment. Tow tractors and cold-storage equipment are also listed, covering several stages of moving and storing goods.
System integration adds another dimension. Noblelift’s published activities include automated storage and retrieval systems, conveying, sorting and AGVs. It combines individual industrial trucks with equipment and systems for larger warehouse projects. Background information appears in the official Noblelift company profile, with equipment categories on its main website.
CSTAR Machinery: Forklifts and Warehouse Equipment
CSTAR Machinery’s published material-handling range includes electric forklifts, diesel forklifts, rough-terrain forklifts, electric stackers and pallet trucks. The categories cover counterbalance trucks as well as equipment for pallet transport and stacking.
Within the diesel range, CSQD identifies the diesel forklift series, while CSQ identifies the rough-terrain forklift series. Electric forklifts, stackers and pallet trucks have their own categories, allowing readers to browse the different equipment families separately.
The product directory provides an overview of the catalog. Readers looking for counterbalance trucks can browse the electric forklift range or the diesel forklift category, which presents the CSQD and CSQ families.
How Their Product Ranges Differ
For a warehouse buyer, start with the equipment used between the loading dock and the racks. EP Equipment, Hangcha and Noblelift list reach trucks, order pickers and very narrow aisle trucks alongside pallet-handling equipment. Those categories cover different tasks, from moving complete pallets to picking individual items and accessing dense storage.
Electric forklift manufacturers in China also differ in how they present the surrounding technology. BYD emphasizes the integration of truck, lithium iron phosphate battery and charger. Noblelift extends beyond individual trucks into automated storage, conveying and sorting systems. One focus concerns the vehicle’s power system; the other adds equipment for a wider warehouse project.
Beyond the warehouse, Hangcha and LiuGong list container-handling equipment. These product areas broaden the overview, but they need not drive a shortlist for routine pallet work. The useful distinction is whether you need an individual truck, several warehouse-equipment types or a larger handling system.
A company’s portfolio can span several of these areas. To understand the designs themselves before comparing suppliers, see our guide to forklift types and their applications.
A Few Points to Compare Before Ordering
Once you have shortlisted companies with the right equipment category, compare their proposed trucks on the same basis. Two quotations for the same nominal capacity can include different masts, batteries, engines or attachments.
- Working specification: Compare rated capacity at the required load center and lift height, together with the mast, forks, tires and attachments.
- Power package: For electric trucks, include the battery and charger. For diesel trucks, compare the engine configuration and requirements of the destination market.
- Ownership support: Review warranty terms, parts arrangements and service available where the truck will operate.
A company’s range tells you where to begin. The proposed model, configuration and support arrangements give you the detail needed to choose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which forklift manufacturers and brands are covered in this China overview?
This article covers BYD, EP Equipment, Hangcha, HELI, LiuGong, Lonking, Noblelift and CSTAR Machinery. It introduces selected companies and their product ranges rather than attempting a complete directory.
Do Chinese forklift companies also make warehouse equipment?
Several companies in this overview offer pallet trucks, stackers, reach trucks or order pickers alongside forklifts. Some also supply automated handling equipment and warehouse systems. Available categories differ between companies and regional catalogs.
Do I need a different manufacturer for electric and diesel forklifts?
Not necessarily. Several companies in this overview offer both power types, while others emphasize electric equipment. Compare the specific electric or diesel model against your load, lift height, working surface and shift pattern. Specializing in one power type is not, on its own, a reason to choose a manufacturer.
Conclusion
China’s forklift industry includes companies with different backgrounds: established industrial-truck businesses, battery-focused vehicle manufacturers, warehouse-equipment specialists and construction-machinery groups. Their catalogs overlap, but their wider activities give each company a distinct profile.
Use these profiles to identify companies whose ranges match your operation, whether that means warehouse trucks, diesel forklifts, container handling or a larger automation project. Then compare the specific models and configurations within that shortlist. A familiar name is a starting point; the equipment it offers is what makes the comparison useful.
Information checked against the linked company websites in October 2026. Product ranges and regional availability may change.
