About us
CESAB Material Handling Europe was founded in 1942 in Bologna, Italy and our customers have been at the heart of our business ever since then. With its corporate head office and sales support in Bologna and marketing support in Brussels, CESAB has a wide network of 134 independent dealers across Europe to make sure you have excellent service and support whenever you need it.
“By partnering with Cesab, our customers have the perfect combination of high-quality products from a world-class manufacturer and the flexibility of personal service from a local dealer.”
Luca Giovagnoni - Commercial Director CESAB Europe
Our customers receive the highest quality of support from CESAB and our network of dealers with the following services:
- Consultations during the forklift selection process
- Operator instruction
- Safety inspection
- Preventive maintenance
- Genuine spare parts sourcing
- ASEC (After Sales Evaluation & Certification)
- Repairs
Our forklifts are designed, manufactured and tested in Europe in our factories in France, Italy, and Sweden using the best manufacturing processes in the world.
- Highest quality
- Increased flexibility
- Shorter delivery lead times
- Reduced environmental impact
Cesab Material Handling Europe Bologna Office – Sales
Via Persicetana Vecchia 10
40132 Bologna
Italy
Tel: +39 051 205 411
Fax: +39 051 727 574
History of CESAB
1942
CESAB founded by the Maccaferri family in Bologna, Italy.
First CESAB logo introduced.
1940's
CESAB commences business activities with products for railways and materials handling sectors.
1951
First CESAB electric forklift produced.
1953
First Italian CESAB dealer appointed 'Marabini F.lli' in Bergamo.
1958
First CESAB dealer appointed outside Italy, Joris Van Dijck in Belgium.
In 1958 Joris Van Dijck started as the CESAB dealer for Belgium and Luxemburg, based in Morkhoven a suburb from Herentals in the Antwerp region.
In 1995 they established their new offices in ‘Herentals-Klein Gent’ an area of 6,000 square meters and next to one of the main highways in Belgium. Chris Van Dijck is still very active in the CESAB dealership which is now an innovative, modern company.
1960's
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CESAB logo updated
First CESAB high level order picker produced
First CESAB towing tractor produced
1965
CESAB already focused on after-sales with dealer service training.
1970's
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Introduction of centaur as CESAB logo.
First CESAB rough terrain forklift produced.
Introduction of electronic control
for CESAB electric forklifts.
CESAB corporate colour changes
from orange to yellow.
1978
First CESAB reach truck produced.
1980
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One of the first exhibitions with CESAB showing full range helps increase brand awareness in Italian market.
1982
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CESAB commences focus on the European market. CESAB GmbH founded in Germany.
www.cesab-forklifts.de
1984
First CESAB electric high capacity ECO-P 85 produced.
1986
First CESAB warehouse truck range produced.
1992
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Focus on the European market continues with the foundation of CESAB Ltd in the UK.
* Trading name of CESAB UK Ltd
www.cesab-forklifts.co.uk
1993
CESAB logo renewed.
Pininfarina designs CESAB trucks creating the legendary Blitz range.
Pininfarina S.p.A. is a leading Italian design house based in Cambiano, Italy. Founded in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers. It also has designed trams in France and Greece, high-speed trains in Holland, and trolleys in the USA and since the 1980s Pininfarina has been consulted on industrial design projects with clients including CESAB for the Blitz range of forklifts.
CESAB green introduced as corporate colour.
1994
Foundation of "BTCESAB S.c.a.r.l." a joint venture with BT Italia.
CESAB products recognised with Compasso D'Oro awards for the Blitz and Drago models.
Compasso d'Oro is an industrial design award which originated in Italy in 1954 by the La Rinascente company from an original idea of Gio Ponti and Alberto Rosselli. From 1964 it has been presented exclusively by Associazione per il Disegno Industriale (ADI). The Compasso d'Oro prize acknowledges and promotes quality in the field of industrial design originating in Italy.
1997
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1997 foundation of a French distributor.
CESAB Material Handling France was formed in 1997 and is now part of CESAB Material Handling Europe organisation.With its head office in Paris and an extensive dealer network, CESAB Material Handling France distributes its expanding product range to customers within France. This helps customers to have the best of both worlds; high quality products backed by strong local support and rapid response times.
www.cesab-forklifts.fr
2000
CESAB joins the Toyota Industries Group
iF Design award 2000 presented for Drago 250 range
The iF product design award is one of the world’s most important product design awards. Award winning entries are allowed to carry the iF logo, a label that signifies outstanding product design.
2005
Acquisition of LTE
Part of the CESAB group, LTE is the European Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) that specialises in the design and production of CESAB forklift masts.
Since the acquisition LTE has invested heavily in new technologies and processes. The investment has included an internal material flow redesign to create a new more efficient layout and support the implementation of Just In Time and Kanban techniques. It has also enabled a new oxi-cut material warehouse to feed the four robot welding lines and a new assembly line able to reach a production capacity in excess of 15,000 masts per year in one shift.
2009
Decision made to place greater focus on European market. CESAB Material Handling Europe established.
CESAB Material Handling Europe was formed in 2009 and is part of the Toyota Material Handling Group. With its corporate head office in Brussels and sales support in Bologna, CESAB Material Handling Europe distributes its expanding product range to customers in 23 countries through a network of exclusive independent dealers. This helps customers to have the best of both worlds; high quality products backed by strong local support and rapid response times.
2010
Launch of new CESAB M300 torque converter IC range
The CESAB M300 range has been built to deal with the rigours and knocks of everyday working life. Strong, tough and reliable with capacities from 1.5 to 3.5 tonnes. Every CESAB M300 has been manufactured using TPS (Toyota Production System) widely acknowledged as one of the most successful manufacturing systems in the world.
Launch of CESAB warehouse range
2011
Launch of the new CESAB Range at CeMAT, Hannover.
A new range of powerful and efficient material handling equipment was launched by CESAB at CEMAT, Hannover. Ergonomically designed reach trucks, cold store cabins and heavy duty powered stacker and pallet trucks are just some of the new models CESAB brought to the European market in 2011.
2012
CESAB 70th Anniversary.
2013
Launch of the powerful 80 volt CESAB B600 range
Aligning with CESAB’s B-series family of electric counterbalanced forklifts, the B600 features CESAB’s Intelligent Mast Design technology (IMD) with the latest advances in productivity and safety features.
The 4-wheel AC electric forklift B600 range has been designed to achieve the highest levels of workplace productivity, with nine models offering load capacity from the 2 tonnes of the new compact B620 model to the high capacity 5.0 tonne B650.
2014
Launch of the new CESAB R100 reach truck range.
Form follows function - the CESAB R100 is a practical easy to operate truck which is designed to deliver high manoeuvrability, reliability and safety to reach truck operations through a series of innovative and ergonomic features. Three practical, easy to operate models include offering load capability of up to 1600 kg and lift heights of up to 8500 mm.
2016
Focus on the European market continues with the foundation of Spanish distributor.
CESAB Material Handling Europe organisation opened an office in Barcelona with the objective of developing and supporting an extensive dealer network.
2017
2018
2020
2022
Launch of the new Cesab P013i: compact, manoeuvrable stable and efficient Powered Pallet Truck
2023
Cesab celebrate 80 years of brand development and growth, years of expanding our network across Europe and growing Cesab family.
Cesab Material Handling Europe launched the new S010I Li-ion powered stacker that brings the highest level of productivity, speed and safety
