Forklift-Simulator
Forklift-Simulator provides VR-based forklift operator training systems with real OEM controls to 300+ enterprise, government, and education customers across 17 countries, and licenses a proprietary expert-operator dataset for industrial AI applications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersNewport Beach, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Forklift-Simulator does
Forklift-Simulator (legal entity FL-Simulators Inc., US; FL-Simulators Europe b.v., Belgium) develops and sells virtual reality forklift operator training simulators. Founded as the inventor of the world's first VR forklift simulator (Innovation Award, Promat Chicago 2015), the company is headquartered in Newport Beach, California with a European office in Antwerp, Belgium. Its product line includes the Desktop Sit-Down, Sit-Down CB, Stand-Up, Desktop Stand-Up, and OEM-branded variants (Hyster/Yale CBS/SUM, Crown CSU, Linde SDM), all featuring genuine OEM controls, a comfort mode for first-time VR users, adaptive learning with a built-in virtual trainer, and OSHA-aligned curriculum.
The technology stack combines VR hardware with a proprietary data platform that records 50Hz telemetry, xAPI learning analytics, gaze and head-tracking, and intent-action-outcome trajectories. Forklift-Simulator monetizes through hardware sales, 3-year rentals, monthly Hardware-as-a-Service subscriptions, and an emerging data-licensing product — a structured Human Action and Intent dataset distributed on HuggingFace for physical AI and world-model developers. Distribution runs through direct enterprise field sales, inside sales for mid-market and education, industry events, and a channel partnership with Adecco's Workforce Academy that places simulators in mobile training centers globally. The company serves 300+ customers across 3PL/warehousing, manufacturing, retail/FMCG, government/military, education, and staffing, with named logos including DHL, US Air Force, PepsiCo, Ford, Merck, Ryder, Adecco, and Goodwill, and reports an installed base of 500+ simulators across 17 countries.
Forklift-Simulator firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Forklift-Simulator
- Legal name
- FL-Simulators Inc.
- Website
- https://forklift-simulator.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Forklift-Simulator provides VR-based forklift operator training systems with real OEM controls to 300+ enterprise, government, and education customers across 17 countries, and licenses a proprietary expert-operator dataset for industrial AI applications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Forklift-Simulator industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial VR Training Simulators
- NAICS
- Computer Training (611420)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Twins & Scenario-Based Systems Training (Equipment/Process Simulators) (EDAFAJAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Safety, Compliance & Risk Training Simulations (EHS, OSHA, Hazard Response) (EDAFAJAD), VR-Based Skills Training Simulations (Soft Skills, Customer Service, Leadership) (EDAFAJAA), Robot Software, Autonomy Stacks & Simulation (ROS, digital twins) (HDAAAIAK)
Keywords
Where Forklift-Simulator is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Newport Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Forklift-Simulator business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- VR Simulator Hardware Sales: Sale of VR forklift simulator hardware units including Desktop Sit-Down, Sit-Down CB, and Stand-Up models. Available as one-time purchase or through 3-year rental model.
- Subscription / Software Licensing: Monthly subscription plans and software licensing for simulator operation, training content, and LMS integration. Includes ongoing software updates and technical support.
- Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS): Monthly payment model providing access to simulator hardware without upfront capital expenditure, making it accessible to mid-market and education customers.
- Industrial AI Data Licensing: Licensing of structured human action and intent datasets to AI/robotics companies for training physical AI and world models. Dataset available on HuggingFace and through direct licensing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Desktop Sit-Down Forklift Simulator - Compact, travel-ready format for small spaces or mobile training |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Sit-Down CB Forklift Simulator - Full-scale with real forklift dimensions for classroom environments |
| Subscription | Monthly | Stand-Up Forklift Simulator - Compact format for narrow aisle warehouse operations |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Forklift-Simulator product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Forklift-Simulator designs, manufactures, and sells VR-based forklift operator training simulators equipped with genuine OEM controls from brands such as Hyster/Yale, Crown, and Linde. The offering spans multiple hardware form factors — Desktop Sit-Down, Sit-Down CB, Stand-Up, and Desktop Stand-Up models — available via one-time purchase, 3-year rental, or monthly Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS) subscription, bundled with software subscriptions, OSHA-aligned curriculum, LMS integration, and analytics. The company also licenses a proprietary Industrial Embodied AI Dataset of expert operator behavior to AI and robotics firms.
Product overview
Forklift-Simulator is the global leader in VR forklift training, offering a portfolio of virtual reality forklift simulators. The core product lineup includes Desktop Sit-Down, Sit-Down CB (Counterbalance), Stand-Up, and Desktop Stand-Up models, each simulating specific forklift types. Products feature real OEM controls, comfort modes, and world-class curricula. The company pioneered the world's first VR forklift simulator (Innovation Award, Promat Chicago 2015). Beyond training products, the company also offers an Industrial Embodied AI Dataset for robotics and autonomous systems development. The simulators are sold via monthly Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS) rental or one-time purchase, serving 300+ blue-chip customers across 17 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Desktop Sit-Down Forklift Simulator Compact, travel-ready VR simulator for training on sit-down counterbalance trucks and sit-down reach trucks, featuring real OEM controls, Comfort Mode VR, and the company's world-class curriculum. Available via monthly Hardware-as-a-Service rental, 3-year rental, or one-time purchase; targeted at employers, schools, and workforce programs with limited space or mobile training needs.
- Sit-Down CB Forklift Simulator Full-scale sit-down counterbalance forklift simulator with to-scale forklift dimensions, genuine Hyster/Yale controls, seating, Comfort Mode VR, and the world-class curriculum. Designed for traditional warehouse training environments and classrooms with more space; sold as a one-time / multi-year license.
- Stand-Up Forklift Simulator Specialized VR simulator for stand-up forklifts, including reach trucks, counterbalance, and man-up order pickers, with real OEM controls and Comfort Mode VR. Optimized for compact spaces and narrow-aisle operations; also available as a Crown Stand Up (CSU) variant for electric standing Crown forklift types.
- Desktop Stand-Up Forklift Simulator Compact, travel-ready VR simulator for training on stand-up reach trucks, counterbalance trucks, and order pickers. Practical format for in-warehouse operations and tight spaces, featuring real OEM controls and Comfort Mode VR.
- Industrial Embodied AI Dataset (Human Action and Intent) Proprietary dataset of human forklift operator behavior captured across more than 500 simulators in 17 countries, structured as aligned intent-action-outcome trajectories at 50Hz. Distributed as JSONL and trajectory.parquet, containing 180,000+ expert operator episodes and ~600,000 registered mistakes and edge cases too dangerous to capture in the real world; licensed to AI/robotics companies for industrial embodied AI and world model development.
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% operator test success rate with immersive VR training
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Forklift-Simulator
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Forklift-Simulator technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
AI capability4 records
Feature8 records
Forklift-Simulator partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Hyster/YalecoreDefault OEM controls partner. CBS and SUM models equipped with genuine Hyster/Yale controls for authentic training experience matching real forklift equipment.
- Crown Equipment CorporationcorePartnership for Crown Stand Up (CSU) simulator tailored to simulate electric, standing Crown forklift types. Brand-specific training solution.
- LindecoreLinde version of Sit-Down Desktop simulator (SDM) available to simulate electric sit-down counterbalanced forklift.
- Top 5 Forklift Brands (unspecified)corePartnership with several Top 5 forklift brands for brand-specific training solutions beyond default models.
- AdeccocoreAdecco's Workforce Academy integrates Forklift Simulator into global forklift training programs. Michel Gelders led adoption for mobile training centers across multiple countries.
- Hugging FacecoreHuman Action and Intent dataset published on HuggingFace for AI/ML community access. Partnership for data distribution and RL: structured human action dataset for physical AI and world models.
- FAIRI (Fairness, Accountability, Interpretability)minor4+ year close research partnership with new publications upcoming on indicators. Ongoing research on rewards, RL agents, and synthetic data modeling. World-class xAPI contributors.
- Bakersfield CollegeminorEducation partnership with Bakersfield College for vocational training programs. Winner of Golden VR Goggles 2024 alongside The Wonderful Company.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Forklift-Simulator competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Interplay Learning: Interplay Learning offers VR-based training for skilled trades including material handling, equipment operation, and safety — directly competing with Forklift-Simulator in the VR operator-training category and serving similar enterprise and education customers.
- CM Labs Simulations: CM Labs builds high-fidelity equipment operation simulators and digital twins for cranes, heavy equipment, and material handling, overlapping directly with Forklift-Simulator's equipment-simulation and OEM-control training approach.
- TRANSFR VR: TRANSFR builds VR training simulations for skilled trades and industrial workforce development, going to similar enterprise and workforce-development buyers as Forklift-Simulator with a comparable VR-based training-as-a-service model.
- Talespin: Talespin provides VR-based workforce training and simulation platforms for enterprises, with overlapping technology in immersive skill training, analytics, and enterprise LMS integration comparable to Forklift-Simulator.
Broad incumbents
- Caterpillar (Cat Simulators): Caterpillar produces heavy-equipment operator training simulators for construction and mining, representing a broader incumbent in equipment simulation with overlapping customer profile to Forklift-Simulator's enterprise buyer.
- Toyota Material Handling: Toyota Material Handling is one of the largest forklift OEMs globally and provides operator training programs and resources; a natural incumbent whose training programs compete with Forklift-Simulator's VR training for warehouse buyers.
- Hyster-Yale Group: Hyster-Yale is a Top 5 forklift OEM and existing core partner of Forklift-Simulator; it provides operator training solutions and could either remain a partner or evolve into a competitor offering in-house training products.
- Crown Equipment Corporation: Crown Equipment, another Top 5 forklift OEM and existing core partner of Forklift-Simulator, supplies forklifts and operator training resources to warehouse customers, overlapping with Forklift-Simulator's training offering.
Emerging players
- Pixo VR: Pixo VR delivers VR training and immersive simulation solutions for industrial and manufacturing operators, positioned as an emerging player in the same enterprise XR training category as Forklift-Simulator.
- Mursion: Mursion provides VR-based simulation training primarily for soft skills but is extending into enterprise workforce applications; an emerging player operating in the broader enterprise VR training market adjacent to Forklift-Simulator.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Forklift-Simulator social profiles
Digital presenceForklift-Simulator financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Forklift-Simulator leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Forklift-Simulator funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Forklift-Simulator M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Forklift-Simulator
What does Forklift-Simulator do?
Forklift-Simulator designs, manufactures, and sells VR-based forklift operator training simulators equipped with genuine OEM controls from brands such as Hyster/Yale, Crown, and Linde. The offering spans multiple hardware form factors — Desktop Sit-Down, Sit-Down CB, Stand-Up, and Desktop Stand-Up models — available via one-time purchase, 3-year rental, or monthly Hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS) subscription, bundled with software subscriptions, OSHA-aligned curriculum, LMS integration, and analytics. The company also licenses a proprietary Industrial Embodied AI Dataset of expert operator behavior to AI and robotics firms.
Is Forklift-Simulator a public or private company?
Forklift-Simulator is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Forklift-Simulator founded?
Forklift-Simulator was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Forklift-Simulator based?
Forklift-Simulator is headquartered in Newport Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does Forklift-Simulator make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. VR Simulator Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are subscription / Software Licensing, hardware-as-a-Service (HaaS) and industrial AI Data Licensing.
Who are Forklift-Simulator's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Interplay Learning, CM Labs Simulations, TRANSFR VR and Talespin. Broad incumbents are Caterpillar (Cat Simulators), Toyota Material Handling, Hyster-Yale Group and Crown Equipment Corporation. Emerging players are Pixo VR and Mursion.
Does Forklift-Simulator have an API?
No public API is recorded for Forklift-Simulator.
What industry is Forklift-Simulator in?
Forklift-Simulator's product category is Industrial VR Training Simulators. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAFAJAJ, Digital Twins & Scenario-Based Systems Training (Equipment/Process Simulators), with a secondary code of EDAFAJAD, Safety, Compliance & Risk Training Simulations (EHS, OSHA, Hazard Response). Its NAICS code is 611420.