HISTORY: INTRALOGISTICS MILESTONES
Over 100 Years of Genkinger
The history of Genkinger goes hand in hand with the development of industrial trucks – from simple handcarts at the beginning of the 20th century to automated automated guided vehicles (AGVs) today.
Over the last 100 years, Genkinger has provided a decisive boost to intralogistics with numerous innovations. As a specialist for heavy and bulky goods, the Genkinger name is a household name in the industry.
Our knowledge from more than a century of mechanical engineering, our innovative strength, and our passion for tailor-made transport solutions continue to shape Genkinger today.
Discover Genkinger’s most important milestones and learn how our company and our intralogistics solutions have evolved over time.
The History of the Genkinger Company
1920s
With handcarts, which were once intended as a work aid for women in industry, ergonomics and efficiency improvements in internal logistics began.
The first impulses for the development of pallet trucks are said to have originally come from North America. Handcarts with lifting mechanisms were followed by lifting carts on wheels.
1922
Birth year of the pallet truck. The patent for the first pallet truck with a hydraulic system went to the German company Oscar Krieger GmbH. Even after more than 90 years, the pallet truck principle still consists of two forks plus the front load wheels and steering wheels.
1929
Hermann Genkinger founds a repair workshop in Münsingen and simultaneously begins manufacturing pumps and jacks.
Genkinger played a key role in the further development of the following generations of pallet trucks and specifications in Germany. Especially when it comes to moving heavy and bulky items easily.
1946
After World War II, his son Lothar Genkinger rebuilt production and, in addition to jacks, also manufactured lifting platforms for motorcycles.
1950s
The economic miracle makes people inventive. For example, to further increase production in the factory halls, more and more material had to be transported and loaded in less and less space.
1955
Lothar Genkinger develops the first warp beam lift truck. Via the textile industry, Genkinger enters the field of conveyor and lifting technology.
Further world firsts and patents “by Genkinger” follow for transport in weaving, knitting, and spinning mills all over the world.
1956
With the invention of container transport by Malcolm McLean in the USA, world trade reaches a new dimension. Loading standardized containers with their entire contents from trucks or trains onto ships and back onto trucks saves time and labor.
1956
Genkinger recognizes the technical and economic potential and begins – at exactly the right time – with the production of pallet lifting equipment for industry in the Swabian Jura. This is because the sharply increased volume of materials and goods also has to be moved through warehouses and production halls.
Warehouse Equipment remains an important pillar for Genkinger to this day.
Early 1960s
Introduction of the Euro pallet (EN 13698-1) and construction of the first high-bay warehouses in Germany.
It is exactly eleven boards that revolutionize the world of logistics. From then on, the Euro pallet and the forklift become the perfect team.
1973
After the death of Lothar Genkinger, son-in-law Dieter Schulze and daughter Irmgard Bütterlin-Genkinger take over the management of the company together.
1991
Presentation of the first fully automatic cloth beam changer and semi-automatic vehicle for fast article changes on a weaving machine at the international textile machinery fair in Hanover
1992
Expansion of the range to include attachment masts and vehicles for manufacturers of automated guided vehicles (AGVs)
Early 2000s
The rapid development and new complexity in logistics require a new language: Supply Chain, Lean Logistics. “Intralogistics” becomes a discipline in its own right within logistics.
The name Genkinger does not remain alone either …
2004-2014/2015
HUBTEX joins on a large scale, so that over the next ten years Genkinger-HUBTEX GmbH makes a name for itself in Warehouse Equipment and also in textile technology.
2014
With the new Managing Director Richard Ludwig, Genkinger goes its own way again – with success. Because for the Swabian tinkerers at Genkinger, the standard is never enough. They always continue where standards reach their limits
2015
- blechnet Award 2015 for the coil transporter in the handling technology/robotics category
- Additional sales location: Genkinger Inc./USA
2016
New product presentations at LogiMAT in Stuttgart and CeMAT in Hanover:
- Electric multi-way sideloader
- Electric heavy-duty reach truck
- Electric pedestrian stacker
2017
Custom solutions by Genkinger:
- EFY
- EE-KHH R5
- Spinning can transporter
- ESY-S
blechnet Award 2017 for the special heavy-duty reach truck in the handling technology/robotics category
2018
Since the takeover of bAKA Handling Solutions GmbH, two tradition-rich companies have been shaping the future of industrial trucks in production and warehouse logistics together. Since the end of 2021 also under one roof.
2019
Industrial trucks have become increasingly resilient, ergonomic, and safe. Now, thanks in part to sensors, lasers, and the corresponding IT, they are becoming more autonomous and thus even safer and more efficient.
Genkinger offers logistics solutions as AGV/FTS. Also as a retrofit.
2022
100 years ago, Hermann Genkinger started manufacturing jacks. Today, industrial trucks by Genkinger transport gigantic loads through production and warehouse halls all over the world every day.
The development of Genkinger and thus of intralogistics continues …
In the anniversary year 2022, the takeover of VMH-Material Handling follows. Under the umbrella brand GENKINGER, Genkinger-baka for Warehouse Equipment and vmh for pallet trucks remain visible.
2024
Uniform brand name in the field of Warehouse Equipment and
textile technology “Genkinger Material Handling”
Expansion of the product range:
- SHERPA
- Towing and transport technology
April 2025
Genkinger becomes part of the HUBTEX Group. Together, the companies combine their expertise and create new opportunities for innovative and tailor-made solutions in material handling. Genkinger will remain an independent brand.
October 2025
A special milestone for Genkinger: The semi-autonomous tool changer was honored at the Best Award 2025 in the Pressing and Forming Technologies category. The award recognizes technological excellence, innovative strength, and the collective achievement of our team in the sheet metal working and joining technology industry.
