Chicago Industrial Equipment

What Chicago Industrial Equipment does

Chicago Industrial Equipment is a privately held industrial and construction equipment dealer founded in 1981 and headquartered on a 10-acre property with a 50,000-square-foot showroom at 600 Oakwood Ct., Rockdale, Illinois. The company sells both new and used aerial work platforms (boom lifts, scissor lifts), telehandlers, mast forklifts, dirt equipment, attachments, light towers, and floor scrubbers sourced from more than 50 manufacturers including JLG, Genie, SkyTrak, Caterpillar, Yale, Hyster, Mitsubishi, Toyota, John Deere, and others. Inventory on hand consistently exceeds 500 units, and the company operates an on-site reconditioning shop that refurbishes used lift trucks to like-new or rental-ready condition before sale.

Revenue is generated through three streams: one-time sales of new and used equipment at unit prices ranging from approximately $7,985 to $169,900; equipment rentals on units designated as rental- or work-ready; and equipment financing facilitated through an affiliation with Direct Capital, providing terms of 12-60 months up to $100,000 without financial statements required. The company also offers freight/shipping services to buyers across the continental United States, leveraging its central Midwest location near Joliet, IL transportation hubs.

The go-to-market model is sales-led, combining a website-driven inventory browsing experience, phone-based inside sales (1-815-744-8811), and in-person customer visits to the facility for inspection and testing. Customer segments include construction firms, warehouse operators, agricultural operations, and landscaping/irrigation contractors. The company operates with 11-50 employees and supports its sales motion with organic social channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram) and Constant Contact email marketing.

Name

Chicago Industrial Equipment

Legal name

Chicago Industrial Equipment, Inc.

Website

https://chicagoindustrial.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Chicago Industrial Equipment is a privately held, Rockdale, Illinois-based industrial and construction equipment dealer founded in 1981, selling new and used aerial lifts, forklifts, telehandlers, dirt equipment, and related gear from 50+ manufacturers to construction, warehouse, agricultural, and landscaping customers nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakdale

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, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: One-time sales of new and used aerial work platforms, telehandlers, forklifts, and construction equipment. Revenue generated from individual equipment transactions at varying price points ranging from approximately $5,000 to over $100,000 depending on equipment type, age, and condition.
2. Equipment Financing: Financing arrangements through Direct Capital partnership, enabling customers to pay for equipment over time with terms ranging from 12 to 60 months.
3. Equipment Rentals: Rental revenue from equipment available for rent, with some units designated as 'Rental Only' or 'Rent/Work Ready'.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chicago Industrial Equipment is a dealer of new and used aerial work platforms (boom lifts, scissor lifts), telehandlers, mast forklifts, and related construction and material handling equipment. It refurbishes used machines at an on-site reconditioning shop before resale and offers financing through Direct Capital and freight shipping throughout the continental United States.

Product overview

Chicago Industrial Equipment operates as an industrial equipment dealer and rental provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of material handling and aerial work equipment. The core product lineup centers on aerial work platforms (boom lifts and scissor lifts), telehandlers (telescopic forklifts), and mast forklifts, complemented by dirt equipment, attachments, light towers, and floor scrubbers. The company sells both new and used equipment, with an on-site reconditioning facility that refurbishes machines to like-new condition. Additional services include equipment financing through Direct Capital and freight/shipping throughout the continental United States. The company carries equipment from over 50 manufacturers including JLG, Genie, SkyTrak, Caterpillar, Yale, Hyster, Mitsubishi, Toyota, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aerial Work Platforms Aerial work platforms including boom lifts and scissor lifts for lifting workers and materials to various heights in construction and warehouse applications, available in both new and used condition.
• Boom Lifts Articulating and telescopic boom lifts that provide vertical and horizontal reach for workers performing overhead tasks in construction and industrial applications.
• Scissor Lifts Vertical mast scissor lifts capable of raising workers and materials to heights up to 150 feet, used in construction and warehouse environments.
• Telehandlers (Telescopic Forklifts) Rough terrain telehandlers with extending booms for lifting materials in construction, agriculture, and industrial applications, also referred to as telescopic forklifts.
• Mast Forklifts Industrial counterbalance forklifts for loading, unloading, and moving pallets and materials in warehouses and distribution centers, available in electric, LPG, diesel, and dual fuel configurations.
• Dirt Equipment Earthmoving equipment including Boxer skid loaders, trenchers, and Volvo double drum rollers for construction, agriculture, and quarry applications.
• Light Towers Portable temporary light towers for construction, jobsite illumination, security lighting, and emergency response applications, including Genie RL4V2 towable light towers.
• Floor Scrubbers Industrial floor cleaning equipment including ride-on and walk-behind scrubbers from Tennant for maintaining clean floors in commercial and industrial facilities.
• Equipment Financing Services Flexible financing options for purchasing or renting industrial equipment, provided through partnership with Direct Capital with terms from 12 to 60 months and amounts up to $100,000 without financials required.
• Freight/Shipping Services Equipment shipping services utilizing the company's central Midwest location near Joliet, IL to provide affordable freight throughout the continental United States.
• Equipment Reconditioning On-site refurbishment and reconditioning services performed by experienced technicians to restore used equipment to like-new condition before sale.

Quantifiable outcome

• All used equipment painstakingly refurbished to like-new condition ensuring reliable long-term performance
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Sunbelt Rentals: Top-3 North American equipment rental provider offering aerial work platforms, forklifts, and construction equipment with both sales and rental channels. Overlaps Chicago Industrial Equipment's full product portfolio but at a national-rental-led scale.
• Caterpillar (Cat Used Equipment): Caterpillar operates an extensive Cat Used and dealer-network channel that competes directly for buyers of used construction and material handling equipment. As the largest OEM in the space, it has both supplier and competitive relationships with Chicago Industrial Equipment.
• United Rentals: Largest North American equipment rental company with a massive aerial, material handling, and construction fleet. Competes with Chicago Industrial Equipment for the same customer base across both new/used sales and rental, but at vastly greater scale and with a national branch network.

Direct peers

• RB Global (Ritchie Bros.): Global used-equipment marketplace and auctioneer competing directly with Chicago Industrial Equipment for buyers and sellers of used aerial lifts, forklifts, and construction equipment across the US.
• MH Equipment: Regional material handling and aerial lift dealer with multiple Midwest locations selling forklifts, aerial platforms, and related equipment — directly comparable to Chicago Industrial Equipment in product mix, geography, and dealer-plus-service model.
• H&E Equipment Services: Publicly-traded equipment dealer and rental company that sells new and used aerial lifts, forklifts, and earthmoving equipment from many of the same OEMs. Closest business-model analog: multi-brand dealer plus rental plus used/refurbished equipment.

Others

• Genie (Terex): Major OEM of scissor lifts, boom lifts, and telehandlers that Chicago Industrial Equipment carries and resells. Like JLG, Genie is simultaneously a supplier and a potential competitor through its own dealer and direct channels.
• JLG Industries (Oshkosh): Leading OEM of aerial work platforms and telehandlers whose products make up a core part of Chicago Industrial Equipment's inventory. Functions as a key supplier partner while also operating direct-sales and certified-used programs that compete with the dealer's resale margins.
• Toyota Material Handling: One of the largest forklift OEMs with a strong North American dealer network. Toyota-branded units are a featured inventory line for Chicago Industrial Equipment, making Toyota both a key supply partner and an indirect competitor through exclusive dealer territories.

Emerging players

• EquipmentShare: Fast-growing equipment rental and fleet management platform with a marketplace component and telematics-enabled fleet. Increasingly competes with regional dealers for mid-market construction and industrial customers seeking digital-first purchasing.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/chicagoindustrial
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/chicago-lift-truck-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/chicagoindustrial

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 Chicago Industrial Equipment