Our History

The Wolter story begins in 1962, when Otto J. Wolter, CEO, founded the company out of a 2-car garage in Milwaukee, WI. The business started out as an aftermarket parts supplier, selling spare parts before expanding into service and used material handling equipment. From there, Otto took on new lift truck lines and began to grow the business organically. That growth continues today.

A Tradition of Excellence

From humble beginnings, Wolter has grown into one of the regions’ largest and most respected operational productivity solutions providers. This business success story is grounded in dedication to customer satisfaction, future-forward thinking and family.

Through hard work, great customer service and acquisitions, we’ve grown into an extensive suite of operational productivity solutions including material handling, automation & robotics, cranes & hoists, industrial storage & handling, railcar movers, power systems, workplace storage, dock equipment, as well as service, parts & accessories, rentals and training.

This exceptional range of products, services and expertise, enables our team of experts to address your operational productivity challenges more holistically. We’re confident that by seeing the bigger productivity picture, we can help you transform today’s operational expenses into tomorrow’s new revenue streams.

History Highlights

1962

LPM Parts & Service founded (later renamed Wisconsin Lift Truck)

1970

📍 Green Bay, WI branch added

1975

Wolter Power Systems division formed

1976

📍 Janesville, WI branch added

1980

📍 Wausau, WI branch added

1984

📍 Eau Claire, WI branch added

1980

📍 Wausau, WI branch added

1985

📍 Rockford, IL branch added, forming Illinois Lift Truck (later renamed Illinois Material Handling)

1990

Training division formed

1995

➕ Acquired Fiorenza Material Handling

1998

➕ Acquired AmGen
Fleet Services division formed

2000

📍 Brookfield, WI headquarters built

2001

📍 Eau Claire, WI branch added

2006

➕ Acquired Material Handling Services

2010

➕ Acquired WITCO Systems

2011

➕ Acquired Global Products
Wolter Group LLC brand introduced to unify family of companies across a growing footprint & expanding portfolio

2012

➕ Acquired Scott Lift Truck and YDR

2014

➕ Acquired Chicago Lift Truck

2015

➕ Acquired Servicemax and Fleet Lift Truck Service

2016

➕ Acquired Ellis Systems

2017

➕ Acquired Stephan Forklift Repair

2018

📍 West Salem, WI branch built

2019

➕ Acquired Kensar Equipment & Bohnert Equipment, expanding territory into Indiana, Ohio & Kentucky

2020

➕ Acquired Integrity Industrial Equipment, A D Lift Truck and K & L Equipment, expanding territory into Missouri & Southern IL

2021

➕ Acquired Power Products Plus and Advantage Materials Handling Group
Company announces it’s unifying all brands under the Wolter name

2022

➕ Acquired Valley Industrial Crane
Wolter celebrates its 60th anniversary & is awarded the BizTimes Future 50 Award
➕ Acquired Ohio Valley Maintenance, expanding dock & door product and service offerings

2024

Wolter secured strategic growth investment from BBH Capital Partners to fuel expansion
📍 New De Pere, WI and Janesville, WI branches built
➕ Acquired Cincinnati Crane & Hoists, adding Wolter-manufactured cranes & hoists to our product & service offerings
➕ Acquired Dedicated Material Handling Solutions – expanded into Georgia

2025

➕ Acquired Midway Industrial Equipment, further supporting the greater Chicago area
➕ Acquired Certified Door & Dock Services, further expanding our Dock and Door service offerings into Tennessee
➕ Acquired Carson Industries, branching out into the Carolinas & connecting Wolter to the East Coast

Our Legacy Brands

Over the years, Wolter has kept its sights squarely on what we can do to better serve our customers. As a result, we’ve grown our footprint and capabilities through both the fostering and strategic acquisition of industry-leading brands. Here’s a closer look at some of the brands that have helped make us what we are today. Wisconsin Lift Truck, Founded in 1962, as LPM Parts & Service, the larger Wolter story begins with Wisconsin Lift Truck. Starting with forklift parts & service, Otto J. Wolter, co-owner Bill Sommers, and Otto’s family members; Joe Weis and Rusty Isler would grow the company into a full-service material handling dealership, offering sales, service, parts, rentals, training and more.

Explore all of Wolter’s acquired brands

Wolter Power Systems

As Wisconsin Lift Truck grew, so did its need for forklift engines. In 1975, Wolter Power Systems was founded as a sole Deutz engine distributor. The business grew steadily each year, allowing Wolter to become the authorized dealer for many new industrial engine lines, along with exchange engines, generators, transfer switches, pumps and mobile light towers from leading manufacturers.

Illinois Material Handling

Formed in 1985, Illinois Material Handling began as a small service center located in Rockford, IL. Originally serviced from Wisconsin Lift Truck’s Janesville facility, due to high demand across the state line, expansion was needed to develop physical operations in the area. Over time, IMH would grow to become one of the most trusted sources in material handling solutions in northern Illinois, providing new and used equipment, service, parts, rentals, and training.

Fleet Services

In 1998, Fleet Services was established to address a demand for solving warehouse inefficiencies by reducing costs associated with a facility’s material flow and the maintenance of entire forklift fleets. After designing and implementing successful fleet improvement strategies for a variety of the region’s largest companies, Fleet Services would become one of the largest and most trusted sources for fleet management solutions throughout the Midwest and beyond.

Kensar Equipment Company

Founded in 1996 in Indianapolis, Kensar was known for its robust fleet of new and used forklifts, aerial lifts, rough terrain forklifts, personnel carriers and other heavy equipment. Since merging with Wolter in 2019, its offerings and expertise has been instrumental in growing Wolter’s wholesale business as well as footprint into Indiana, southwestern Ohio and northern Kentucky.

Ellis Systems

Founded in 1963, Ellis Systems has developed a long-lasting reputation for both space-savings and cost-savings. Offering both office and industrial storage solutions, Ellis Systems specializes in high-density mobile shelving, vertical carousels, vertical lift modules, facility automation, and robotic solutions, in addition to rotary files, storage shelving, color-coded filing and more. Wolter acquired Ellis Systems in 2016, allowing us to expand our footprint in the rapidly evolving automated material management and storage industry.

Bohnert Equipment Company

Founded in 1934, Bohnert grew to become Kentucky’s one-stop-shop for material handling and engineered systems, such as conveyors, cranes, hoists and pallet racking. Bohnert joined Wolter in 2019, adding to our growing suite of enterprise productivity solutions.

A D Lift Truck

Founded in St. Louis in 1977, A D Lift Truck specialized in material handling equipment, such as new and pre-owned forklifts, aerial lifts, pallet racking, and more. It joined forces with Wolter in 2020, expanding our end-to-end solutions offerings into the St. Louis Metro Area and Southern Illinois from its facilities in St. Louis and St. Clair.

An Eye Toward the Future

Wolter wouldn’t be what it is today without the expertise and experience of our component brands. Each acquisition and expansion puts us in a better position to serve you, our customers.

As your operations continue to grow, you can trust that Wolter will do everything it can to provide the technology, equipment and support to keep your business ahead of the competition.