Burwell
Burwell Material Handling is a privately held U.S. dealer (19–20 branches, HQ Sioux Falls, SD) that sells, rents, services, and supplies parts for forklifts, aerial lifts, warehouse vehicles, and dock/door equipment, and adds fleet telematics and warehouse automation for industrial customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersDakota, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Burwell does
Burwell Material Handling is a privately held, family-led U.S. material handling solutions provider headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, operating approximately 19–20 branch locations nationwide. The company sells, rents, services, and supplies parts for a broad portfolio of industrial equipment — forklifts (IC pneumatic, IC cushion, electric counterbalance, stand-up rider), pallet jacks, telehandlers, boom lifts, scissor lifts, warehouse vehicles, and sweepers/scrubbers — while also delivering structural solutions (dock equipment, doors, levelers, seals, shelters, trailer restraints, racking, overhead cranes) and warehouse automation (conveyors, robotics, integrated systems). It operates as an authorized dealer for multiple OEMs including Bobcat/Doosan, Hyundai, CLARK, Sellick, Combilift, Princeton, Big Joe, and Linde/Baoli, and holds long-tenured partnerships with structural-solutions brands such as Kelley (since 1953) and Dynaco (30+ years), supplemented by an aftermarket parts partnership with TVH.
The business runs on a multi-stream revenue model combining one-time equipment and structural-solution sales with recurring rentals, planned maintenance, emergency service, parts, and subscription-style fleet technology (Burwell Connect telematics, Burwell Protect safety, LaserGlow). Underlying technology comprises mixed-fleet telematics with usage tracking, performance optimization, and remote monitoring; AI-powered pedestrian detection for warehouse safety; and an e-commerce storefront (shop.burwellmh.com) layered on top of a direct field-sales motion that delivers on-site service via factory-trained technicians. The customer base is horizontally segmented across warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing facilities, and jobsite operations, with Lincoln Electric cited as a named enterprise manufacturing reference. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, and the company was rebranded from C & B Material Handling in 2023 after consolidating six legacy dealer brands (Big River Equipment, Louisiana Lift, Allift, Wise Forklift, Jefferds Corporation, Homestead Material Handling) under the unified Burwell identity, with the Burwell family involved in leadership for approximately 40 years on a corporate history dating to roughly 1946.
Burwell firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Burwell
- Legal name
- Burwell Material Handling, LLC
- Website
- https://burwellmh.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Burwell Material Handling is a privately held U.S. dealer (19–20 branches, HQ Sioux Falls, SD) that sells, rents, services, and supplies parts for forklifts, aerial lifts, warehouse vehicles, and dock/door equipment, and adds fleet telematics and warehouse automation for industrial customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Burwell industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Material Handling Equipment and Services
- NAICS
- Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924), Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (33392), Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923)
- SIC
- Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Loading/Unloading & Transfer Equipment (Telescopic Conveyors, Loaders, Tipplers) (IMAHABAI)
Keywords
Where Burwell is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dakota
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Burwell business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Equipment Sales: Sales of new and pre-owned material handling equipment including forklifts, telehandlers, boom lifts, scissor lifts, warehouse vehicles, sweepers/scrubbers, and pallet jacks.
- Equipment Rentals: Short-term and long-term rental equipment for covering down equipment, seasonal spikes, special projects, or workflow changes. Equipment shows up ready to work with on-call support.
- Service and Maintenance: On-site mobile service, planned maintenance programs, emergency repair services (24/7), and parts fulfillment for material handling equipment and infrastructure.
- Parts Sales: OEM parts for authorized dealer brands (Bobcat/Doosan, Hyundai, CLARK, Sellick, Combilift, Princeton, Big Joe, Linde/Baoli) and aftermarket parts through TVH partnership.
- Fleet Technology: Fleet telematics, management, and safety technology solutions including Burwell Connect, Burwell Protect, and technology-enabled maintenance.
- Warehouse Solutions: Structural solutions including dock equipment, doors, levelers, seals, shelters, trailer restraints, and racking/storage optimization.
- Automation Solutions: Warehouse automation, robotics, conveyor systems, and integrated systems for phased automation implementation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Burwell product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Burwell Material Handling distributes, rents, services, and supports industrial material handling equipment—including forklifts, aerial lifts, telehandlers, warehouse vehicles, sweepers, and pallet jacks—while also providing structural and automation solutions (dock equipment, doors, racking, conveyors, robotics) and operating its own fleet technology platforms (Burwell Connect, Burwell Protect, LaserGlow). The company serves as a single-source partner covering equipment, parts, planned and emergency maintenance, OSHA training, rentals, and fleet telematics across roughly 19 U.S. branch locations.
Product overview
Burwell Material Handling offers a comprehensive portfolio of material handling equipment, solutions, and services organized across five integrated categories: Equipment (forklifts, aerial lifts, warehouse vehicles, and industrial equipment), Fleet Technology (Burwell Connect and Burwell Protect telematics platforms), Automation Solutions (robotics, warehouse automation, and conveyor systems), Structural Solutions (racking, dock equipment, doors, and crane systems), and Parts & Service (maintenance, emergency repair, and parts fulfillment). The company operates 16-20 U.S. locations providing equipment sales, rentals, service, training, and fleet management solutions for warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing facilities. The Connect & Protect fleet technology platform (including Burwell Connect, Burwell Protect, and LaserGlow Technologies) integrates with equipment to provide telematics, usage tracking, performance optimization, and AI-powered safety features. Products are sourced from trusted brand partners including Bobcat/Doosan, Hyundai, CLARK, Kelley, Dynaco, and others.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Burwell Connect: Fleet management and telematics solutions for material handling equipment.
- Burwell Protect
- LaserGlow Technologies
Products and services
- IC Pneumatic Tire Forklifts
- IC Cushion Tire Forklifts
- Electric Counter Balance Forklifts
- Stand-Up Rider Forklifts
- Pallet Jacks & Trucks
- Telehandlers
- Boom Lifts
- Scissor Lifts
- Warehouse Vehicles
- Sweepers/Scrubbers
- Equipment Rental
- Mobile Service
- Planned Maintenance
- Emergency Service Repair
- OSHA Forklift Certification & Training
- Warehouse Automation Solutions
- Conveyor Systems
- Racking & Storage Solutions
- Overhead Crane Systems
- Dock Levelers
- Dock Seals & Shelters
- Trailer Restraint & Wheel Chocking System
- Doors
- Parts Fulfillment
- Burwell Connect
- Burwell Protect
- LaserGlow Technologies
Companies that use Burwell
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Burwell technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature6 records
Burwell partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- TVHcoreThrough partnership with TVH, Burwell has access to the world's largest inventory of aftermarket parts for material handling equipment, providing cost-effective alternatives to OEM parts without sacrificing performance or availability.
- Bobcat/DoosancoreAuthorized OEM dealer providing direct access to genuine parts designed specifically for Bobcat and Doosan equipment with factory-grade quality and full manufacturer support.
- HyundaicoreAuthorized OEM dealer for Hyundai material handling equipment providing factory-direct parts and manufacturer support.
- CLARKcoreAuthorized OEM dealer for CLARK forklifts and industrial vehicles providing genuine parts and full service support.
- SellickcoreAuthorized dealer for Sellick equipment providing OEM parts and service support.
- CombiliftcoreAuthorized dealer for Combilift material handling equipment providing parts and service.
- PrincetoncoreAuthorized dealer for Princeton lift trucks providing OEM parts and support.
- Big JoecoreAuthorized dealer for Big Joe material handling equipment providing parts and service.
- Linde/BaolicoreAuthorized dealer for Linde and Baoli equipment providing genuine parts and manufacturer support.
- KelleycoreAuthorized partner for Kelley dock equipment including levelers, restraints, seals, shelters, lifts, and HVLS fans since 1953. Kelley is part of Entrematic.
- DynacocorePartner for over 30 years providing high-performance roll-up doors that reduce costs, enhance safety, and optimize traffic flow. Dynaco is part of Entrematic.
- EntrematiccoreEntrance automation leader with partnerships including Amarr, Kelley, Serco, and Dynaco, delivering top-tier industrial and high-performance door solutions.
- APS ResourceminorQuality warehouse and loading dock equipment focusing on facility safety and energy efficiency, from vehicle lighting to protective weatherseal systems.
- RytecminorHigh-speed doors engineered for durability with rapid opening/closing, robust components, and exclusive features for enhanced security and efficiency.
- Cornell Cooksoncore180+ years providing custom closure solutions: rolling steel doors, fire-rated products, security grilles, and high-cycle coiling doors for any environment.
- ClopaycoreNearly 60 years of innovation offering overhead sectional garage doors and industrial rolling steel doors for residential and commercial applications.
- C.H.I Overhead DoorscoreOver 25 years providing superior commercial and residential garage doors engineered for durability, security, and flawless operation. Headquartered in Arthur, Illinois.
- Sanford Children'sminorProud sponsor of Sanford Children's annual golf tournament, contributing to vital services like Child Life programs, state-of-the-art medical equipment, and specialized staff education.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Burwell competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Alta Equipment Group: Public (NYSE: ALTG) industrial and material handling equipment dealer with sales, rental, parts, and service across multiple U.S. states. Highly comparable business model with broader geographic scale and public-market capital.
- Stoltz Sales & Service: Authorized dealer for major material handling OEMs serving warehousing and manufacturing customers across multiple U.S. states. Closely comparable in dealership model, OEM authorizations, and field-service-led GTM.
- Atlas Companies: Authorized dealer for major material handling brands (Toyota, Hyster) and aerial lift OEMs with U.S. branch operations. Comparable as a multi-OEM dealer providing equipment, parts, service, and fleet management to industrial customers.
- Berry Companies: Multi-brand material handling and crane dealer with U.S. branch network offering equipment sales, service, parts, and rigging solutions. Overlaps with Burwell in forklifts, aerial equipment, and overhead crane systems.
- MH Equipment: Multi-brand material handling equipment dealer and service provider covering forklifts, aerial lifts, and warehouse solutions across multiple U.S. regions. Closely comparable to Burwell in OEM-authorized distribution, branch-network model, and end-to-end warehouse solutions positioning.
- Equipment Depot: Large multi-regional U.S. material handling dealer with sales, rental, service, parts, and warehouse automation offerings. Operates a similar full-service dealer model and competes for the same enterprise warehousing and manufacturing customers as Burwell.
Broad incumbents
- Crown Equipment Corporation: Major privately held U.S. material handling OEM with direct sales/service presence and dealer channels. Comparable as a competing brand in Burwell's served market with growing investment in telematics and automation.
- Hyster-Yale Materials Handling: Global OEM of forklifts and warehouse equipment (Hyster, Yale brands) with a large dealer network in the U.S. Comparable as both an indirect supplier to Burwell's competitors and a broader market participant in material handling.
- H&E Equipment Services: Public (NASDAQ: HEES) full-service equipment dealer and rental company serving industrial customers with forklifts, aerial lifts, and earthmoving equipment. Comparable in industrial equipment distribution and rental, broader in construction equipment.
- Toyota Material Handling: One of the largest global material handling OEMs with extensive North American dealer network. Comparable as a competitor to Burwell's authorized dealers and as an indirect supplier through competitor brand relationships.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Burwell financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Burwell leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Burwell funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Burwell 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 Burwell
What does Burwell do?
Burwell Material Handling distributes, rents, services, and supports industrial material handling equipment—including forklifts, aerial lifts, telehandlers, warehouse vehicles, sweepers, and pallet jacks—while also providing structural and automation solutions (dock equipment, doors, racking, conveyors, robotics) and operating its own fleet technology platforms (Burwell Connect, Burwell Protect, LaserGlow). The company serves as a single-source partner covering equipment, parts, planned and emergency maintenance, OSHA training, rentals, and fleet telematics across roughly 19 U.S. branch locations.
Is Burwell a public or private company?
Burwell is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Burwell founded?
Burwell was founded in 1946. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Burwell based?
Burwell is headquartered in Dakota, United States, in the North America region.
How does Burwell make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are equipment Rentals, service and Maintenance, parts Sales, fleet Technology, warehouse Solutions and automation Solutions.
Who are Burwell's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Alta Equipment Group, Stoltz Sales & Service, Atlas Companies, Berry Companies, MH Equipment and Equipment Depot. Broad incumbents are Crown Equipment Corporation, Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, H&E Equipment Services and Toyota Material Handling.
Does Burwell have an API?
No public API is recorded for Burwell.
What industry is Burwell in?
Burwell's product category is Material Handling Equipment and Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHABAI, Loading/Unloading & Transfer Equipment (Telescopic Conveyors, Loaders, Tipplers). Its NAICS code is 333924 and its SIC code is 3537.