75th anniversary for two Raymond material handling inventions

November 11, 2014
By Alyssa Dalton

Nov. 11, 2014 – The Raymond Corp. is commemorating the 75th anniversary of two inventions that revolutionized the material handling industry: the hydraulic hand pallet truck and double-faced wooden pallet. These innovations were developed by founder George Raymond Sr. and engineer William House, and patented on November 7, 1939.

“On occasions such as this, I reflect on the many achievements of my grandfather,” said Steve Raymond, grandson of George Sr., and president of Raymond Handling Concepts Corp., an authorized Raymond sales and service centre. “Although my grandfather was a man of great vision and ingenuity, he would be astounded by today’s technological innovations — both in the company’s broad line of products and the methods used to produce them.”

Originally established as Lyon Iron Works in Greene, N.Y., the small foundry purchased in 1922 by George Sr. marked the beginning of Raymond in the material handling industry. In its 92-year history, Raymond has developed and patented technologies which it says have become industry standards.

“Raymond consistently has been recognized for its expertise in developing optimized solutions that improve our customers’ bottom lines,” said Mike Field, president of operations and engineering. “Today, Raymond continues its tradition of leadership by improving material handling performance through new data-rich products and emerging technologies, which continue to raise the bar.”