On December 1, 1964, Cal-Lift, Inc. opened new facilities on Slauson Avenue in the City of Commerce as the Towmotor Lift Truck dealership.  Co-owners, William Christiansen, President, and John T. Maechling, Executive Vice President, started the business with a combined 20 years experience in the material handing industry.

Specializing in the lift truck industry, the business started with 22 employees.

Irving G. King Company, the previous Towmotor dealership, had given up its parts and service franchise, which was the administered directly by the Towmotor Corporation as a branch facility in Los Angeles and Orange County.  By locating the business in the City of Commerce, both the branch parts and service facilities were combined into one major dealership.

A year after Cal-Lift, Inc. opened, Bill Christiansen was no longer able to continue actively in the business due to illness.  On March 20, 1966, he passed away and his stock was redeemed by the corporation.

In 1978, Cal-Lift, Inc. became the Allis-Chalmers dealer in Southern California.  The company purchased all of the assets of the three factory branches located in the area. 

In 1980, Cal-Lift, Inc. also acquired the Taylor Machine Works and the Ottawa Terminal Tractor lines.  These lines have enabled Cal-Lift, Inc. to develop strong business relationships in the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach.

Today, seven major product lines, Clark, Taylor, Ottawa, Taylor Power Systems, Hoss Vehicles, Linde and Mitsubishi, serve a diverse industry, as well as supplying quality service, rental back up and an excellent parts department.

In October 1995 Mark Maechling joined Cal-Lift, Inc.  After graduating from the University of Oregon he had a successful career in the securities business in New York and Los Angeles.  In 1998 Mark was promoted to President of Cal-Lift, Inc. and his father continued as Chairman Emeritus.  In 2003 Mark purchased Cal-Lift, Inc.

In 2008, Cal-Lift, Inc. also acquired the Clark Material Handling line for Southern California.  The Clark brand is a key growth opportunity for the company in the coming years, and a top brand in the industry.