Fairchild Equipment

What Fairchild Equipment does

Fairchild Equipment is a family-owned, Wisconsin-headquartered private LLC founded in 1985 by Gary Fairchild as Yale Materials Handling and now led by his son Chad Fairchild as CEO. The company operates roughly 10 branch locations across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, North Dakota, and Upper Michigan with 325+ employees, generating revenue across five primary streams: new and used materials handling equipment sales, short- and long-term rental, parts and service, operator training, and financing. As an authorized dealer for Hyster and Yale lift trucks, supplemented by JCB, the business serves warehousing and distribution, construction, agriculture, industrial manufacturing, and rail/terminal customers.

The company's technical platform centers on the proprietary Smart Fleet software, which aggregates telematics from Hyster Tracker, Yale Vision, JCB LiveLink, and internal battery tracker systems into a unified fleet management interface. Beyond equipment distribution, Fairchild has built a warehouse systems design practice that integrates automated guided vehicles, autonomous forklifts, pallet shuttles, and vertical lift modules, positioning the dealer to capture higher-margin automation project work rather than purely transactional equipment sales.

The business model combines transactional equipment revenue (new and used sales, rental) with recurring aftermarket streams (parts, service, training, financing) and project-based warehouse design revenue. Customer relationships are anchored by long-tenured OEM authorizations—evidenced by 28 consecutive years of Yale Dealer of Excellence recognition, 10 Hyster Dealer of Distinction awards, and 12 MHEDA MVP awards—which reinforce the recurring service and parts motion that is the most economically durable component of dealer economics.

Name

Fairchild Equipment

Legal name

Fairchild Equipment

Website

https://fairchildequipment.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Fairchild Equipment is a family-owned Hyster and Yale materials handling dealer operating 10 branches across the Upper Midwest, providing forklift sales, rental, service, training, and warehouse automation solutions to industrial, construction, agricultural, and logistics customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Material Handling Equipment Dealership

SIC

Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Material Handling Equipment Rental/Leasing (Forklifts, Telehandlers, Reach Trucks) (TLABAFAF)

Keywords

• Material handling equipment
• Forklift dealership
• Warehouse automation solutions
• Fleet management software
• Industrial equipment service

Headquarters

HQ city

Green Bay

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. New Equipment Sales: Sale of new material handling equipment including forklifts, aerial lifts, construction equipment, agricultural equipment, utility vehicles, floor cleaning equipment, and railcar movers from manufacturers such as Hyster, Yale, JCB, Genie, and others.
2. Used Equipment Sales: Sale of pre-owned material handling equipment across all product categories, offering customers cost-effective alternatives for fleet needs.
3. Equipment Rental: Short-term and long-term rental equipment for material handling, aerial lifts, construction equipment, agricultural equipment, and floor cleaning. Large, reliable fleets for consistent project deadlines.
4. Parts Sales: Well-stocked parts departments at all locations for replacement parts, tires, and accessories across all equipment brands.
5. Service and Maintenance: Repair and maintenance services including certified road technicians available for on-site service, preventive maintenance, and emergency repairs. 24/7 emergency service available.
6. Financing Services: Flexible financing solutions including Fair Market Value Lease (FMV), Full Payout (FPO), Rental Purchase Option (RPO), and Governmental Lease Options. Works with customers to structure financing for individual machines or entire fleets.
7. Safety and Training: OSHA-aligned training courses for forklift operators, aerial equipment operators, and in-house trainers. Certification courses for equipment from Hyster, Yale, JCB, Genie, JLG and more.
8. Warehouse Systems and Design: Warehouse design and planning, engineering studies, rack repair, warehouse installation services, pallet racking systems, storage and handling systems, mezzanines, and warehouse safety equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fairchild Equipment is an authorized Hyster and Yale materials handling dealership selling new and used forklifts, aerial lifts, construction and agricultural equipment, utility vehicles, floor cleaning equipment, and railcar movers. The company bundles equipment sales with its proprietary Smart Fleet fleet management software, parts and certified road technician service, equipment rentals, financing, OSHA-aligned safety training, and warehouse systems design and installation across 10 Midwest branch locations.

Product overview

Fairchild Equipment is a comprehensive materials handling dealership offering a broad portfolio of equipment, technology solutions, and services. The core offering centers on Smart Fleet proprietary fleet management software integrated with Hyster and Yale forklifts as primary brands. The product portfolio spans forklifts (Hyster, Yale, Combilift, Bendi, Mariotti, Drexel, Donkey, Landoll, TASK, RICO), aerial lifts (Genie, JLG, Skyjack, JCB), construction and agricultural equipment (JCB, Mahindra), floor cleaning equipment (Nilfisk, IPC Eagle, Kodiak), utility vehicles (Motrec, Taylor-Dunn, Columbia, Cushman, Polaris), and railcar movers (Rail King). Technology add-ons include forklift telemetry (Hyster Tracker, Yale Vision, JCB Live Link) and warehouse automation (AGVs, autonomous forklifts, pallet shuttles, VLMs, conveyors). Supporting services encompass parts and service, equipment rentals, financing solutions, warehouse systems design, and OSHA-aligned safety training. The offering is structured as a one-stop shop model where the core equipment sales are enhanced by proprietary Smart Fleet software and complementary service offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smart Fleet: Proprietary fleet management software that provides remote monitoring of operational and ownership metrics, tracking service work orders, rentals, and cost analysis for warehouse fleet management.

Products and services

• New Equipment Sales
• Used Equipment Sales
• Equipment Rental
• Parts Sales
• Service and Maintenance
• Financing Solutions
• Safety and Training
• Warehouse Systems and Design
• Smart Fleet
• Warehouse Automation Solutions

Quantifiable outcome

• OSHA-aligned training ensures regulatory compliance and reduces workplace incidents
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ISN (International Safety Network)coreOthersFairchild Equipment holds RAVS Plus certification from ISN, demonstrating commitment to safety and operational excellence. This certification enhances their ability to deliver outstanding service while prioritizing employee and client well-being.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cat Lift Trucks: Industrial lift truck brand under Caterpillar with a North American dealer footprint. Competes in heavy-duty forklifts and material handling equipment for industrial and construction customers similar to Fairchild's customer base.
• Hyster-Yale Materials Handling: Publicly traded parent company of the Hyster and Yale forklift brands that anchor Fairchild's product portfolio. Operates the broader dealer network strategy and represents both a key supplier and a potential source of channel disintermediation risk.
• Toyota Material Handling USA: Largest U.S. forklift manufacturer with an extensive direct and dealer network. Competes head-to-head for the same warehousing and industrial customers; also owns Bastian Solutions in the integrator space where Fairchild is expanding.
• Crown Equipment Corporation: Privately held U.S. forklift and warehouse equipment manufacturer with a direct dealer network. Competes for similar forklift and warehouse customers as Fairchild, particularly in electric lift trucks and warehouse racking.
• The Raymond Corporation: Material handling and forklift manufacturer (part of Toyota Industries Group) with a North American dealer network. Overlaps directly with Fairchild in forklift sales, rentals, and warehouse solutions for distribution customers.
• Komatsu Forklift America: Material handling and construction equipment manufacturer with a U.S. dealer network. Competes with Fairchild in forklifts and the heavy-lifting segment (telehandlers) where Fairchild carries JCB.

Direct peers

• MH Equipment: Large Illinois-based Hyster-Yale material handling dealer operating across multiple Midwest states. Closest direct comparable: same dealer model, same OEM relationships, same customer segments (warehousing, industrial), and overlapping territory with Fairchild.
• Riekes Equipment: Regional Hyster-Yale material handling dealer headquartered in Nebraska serving industrial and warehouse customers across the central Midwest. Comparable dealer model with multi-state coverage and similar manufacturer relationships.

Emerging players

• Bastian Solutions: Material handling integrator acquired by Toyota Industries in 2022, specializing in warehouse automation, robotics, conveyors, and AS/RS. Directly competes with Fairchild's warehouse automation offering (AGVs, VLMs, robotic forklifts).
• MHS Global: Material handling integrator offering warehouse automation, conveyors, AS/RS, and racking systems. Overlaps with Fairchild Systems division in pallet racking and warehouse design/installation services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fairchildequipment

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fairchild Equipment