What Nu-Star does

Nu-Star, operating through its PowerPusher Division (legal entity TC Nu-Star Inc.), is a privately held US manufacturer of battery-powered electric material handling equipment founded in 1959 and headquartered in Shakopee, Minnesota. The company designs and builds compact electric tuggers, pushers, dumpster movers, trailer movers, rail movers, electric lifts and carts, hazardous-duty movers, remote-control units, and a flagship RollMate tugger, with a stated custom-engineering capability that allows customers to configure attachments and machine specifications for specific operational requirements. Its products target manual load-movement pain points — worker fatigue, ergonomic injuries, and productivity loss — across thirteen vertical industries including manufacturing, automotive dealerships, aviation ground support, construction, food, medical/pharmaceutical, railroad/transit, and marine/RV.

The business is monetized through one-time hardware sales of custom-configured equipment, replacement parts and accessories sold through a dedicated e-commerce portal (parts.powerpusher.com), and collaborative custom-engineering services for specialized applications. Go-to-market is hybrid: direct enterprise field sales supported by online 'Build a Quote' and 'Request a Demo' CTAs, a formal 'Become A Distributor' channel partner program, and self-service parts commerce. Marketing combines thirteen industry-specific landing pages, a blog and case-study library, newsletter capture, and trade show participation across ASLRRA, MODEX, and MRO Americas in 2026.

The company's customer base is reported at 36,000+ companies globally, with named reference logos including 3M, Ford, Northrop Grumman, and the US Marines. Operations span two countries — the United States and the United Kingdom — though the company is small (11–50 employees), privately held with no disclosed funding, M&A, or leadership changes in the source material. Technology differentiators center on electromechanical design (self-stopping safety features, compact form factor, application-specific customizability) rather than software or AI.

Name

Nu-Star

Legal name

TC Nu-Star Inc.

Website

https://nustarinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nu-Star (PowerPusher Division of TC Nu-Star Inc.) is a privately held, 65-year-old US manufacturer of battery-powered electric tuggers, pushers, and material handling movers, serving manufacturers, automotive dealerships, aviation ground support, and 11 other vertical industries across the US and UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Shakopee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Sale of battery-powered material handling equipment including electric tuggers, pushers, dumpster movers, trailer movers, lifts, and custom machines. One-time purchase model with machines built for long-lasting performance.
2. Parts and Accessories: Parts sales through dedicated parts portal (parts.powerpusher.com), providing replacement parts and accessories for existing equipment.
3. Custom Machine Engineering Services: Custom machine engineering services where engineers collaborate with customers to design equipment meeting specific operational requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Nu-Star, through its PowerPusher Division, designs and manufactures battery-powered electric material handling equipment including tuggers, pushers, dumpster movers, trailer movers, rail movers, electric wheelbarrows, and electric lifts. The company also offers custom-engineered machines and attachments tailored to specific operational requirements across industries such as manufacturing, automotive, aviation, construction, food, medical/pharmaceutical, and railroad/transit. Facilities in the United States and United Kingdom serve more than 36,000 companies globally.

Product overview

Nu-Star (through its PowerPusher Division) offers a comprehensive line of battery-powered and electric material handling equipment. The product portfolio centers on electric tuggers, pushers, and movers designed to move heavy rolling loads safely and efficiently. Key products include the RollMate, Material Handling Electric Tuggers & Pushers, Automotive PowerPusher, Trailer Movers, Dumpster Mover, E-750 Electric Wheelbarrow, Rail Mover, Electric Lifts & Carts, Hazardous Duty PowerPusher, and Remote-Control units. The company also provides Custom Machines for specialized applications. All products are engineered for durability, safety, and ease of operation, serving industries including manufacturing, automotive, construction, food, medical/pharmaceutical, railroad/transit, aviation/aerospace, and more. The product line ranges from compact user-friendly machines to heavy-duty industrial equipment, with options for attachments and customizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RollMate™: Battery-powered material handling tugger/pusher machine for moving rolls and heavy loads
• PowerPusher Dumpster Mover™
• PowerPusher Rail Mover™
• Hazardous Duty PowerPusher™
• Automotive PowerPusher™
• E-750 Electric Wheelbarrow™

Products and services

• RollMate™
• Material Handling Electric Tuggers & Pushers
• Automotive PowerPusher™
• Trailer Movers
• PowerPusher Dumpster Mover™
• E-750 Electric Wheelbarrow™
• PowerPusher Rail Mover™
• Electric Lifts & Carts
• Hazardous Duty PowerPusher™
• Remote-Control Tuggers & Pushers
• Custom Machines

Quantifiable outcome

• 36,000+ companies trust PowerPusher equipment globally
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MasterMover: UK-based manufacturer of electric tuggers, tugs, and pushers for moving heavy wheeled loads in industrial and manufacturing environments. Directly comparable in product type (battery-powered pedestrian electric movers), target verticals, and custom-engineering sales model, though it leans more heavily into the European market.
• DJ Products: US-based manufacturer of electric industrial moving equipment, including battery-powered personnel carriers and material movers. Closely comparable niche competitor focused on compact, electric, ride-on/push industrial moving solutions serving automotive, warehouse, and manufacturing customers.
• Big Joe Forklifts: US-based manufacturer of small-format material handling equipment including electric pallet jacks, stackers, and lithium-ion forklifts. Directly comparable in target customer (SMB/enterprise industrial facilities), product category (compact electric material handling), and distribution model, though Big Joe offers a broader standard catalog.

Broad incumbents

• Linde Material Handling: Global industrial truck manufacturer (KION subsidiary) producing forklifts, pallet trucks, and electric material handling equipment. Overlaps with Nu-Star in industrial material handling applications with a much larger product portfolio and international dealer network.
• Toyota Material Handling: Global industrial truck manufacturer and broad incumbent in forklifts, electric pallet jacks, and warehouse equipment. Overlaps with Nu-Star in the industrial material handling equipment category and competes for the same enterprise and dealer-channel customers, but at significantly greater scale and product breadth.
• The Raymond Corporation: US-based manufacturer of electric forklifts, pallet jacks, stackers, and material handling automation solutions. Comparable target customers (warehouses, manufacturing, distribution centers) with a deeper standard product catalog and integrated automation roadmap.
• Crown Equipment Corporation: Major US-based manufacturer of forklifts, electric pallet trucks, stackers, and warehouse material handling equipment. Competes with Nu-Star in industrial facilities and warehouses, offering a deeper standard product line and broader service network.
• KION Group: European-headquartered global supplier of forklifts, warehouse equipment, and supply chain solutions through Linde, STILL, and Dematic brands. Operates across the same industrial and warehouse material handling space as Nu-Star at significantly larger scale and with broader automation offerings.
• Jungheinrich: German-based global intralogistics provider offering forklifts, electric pallet trucks, stackers, and warehouse automation. Overlaps with Nu-Star in industrial material handling equipment and competes for European manufacturing customers.
• Hyster-Yale Materials Handling: Global industrial truck OEM with Hyster, Yale, and Nuvera fuel cell brands across lift trucks, electric forklifts, and material handling automation. Direct overlap with Nu-Star in industrial and warehouse applications, but at meaningfully greater scale and broader product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Nu-Star