The Raymond Corporation is commemorating the 75th anniversary of two inventions that revolutionized the material handling industry: the hydraulic hand pallet truck and double-faced wooden pallet. These innovations were developed by George Raymond, Sr., founder of Raymond, and William House, the first engineer for Raymond, and patented on Nov. 7, 1939.

“On occasions such as this, I reflect on the many achievements of my grandfather,” says Steve Raymond, grandson of George Raymond, Sr., and president of Raymond Handling Concepts Corporation, an authorized Raymond Sales and Service Center. “Although my grandfather was a man of great vision and ingenuity, he would be astounded by today’s technological innovations — both in the company’s broad line of products and the methods used to produce them. He also would be pleased that many Raymond products still are manufactured at the plant in Greene, New York, where he founded the company.”

Originally established as Lyon Iron Works in Greene, the small foundry purchased in 1922 by George Raymond, Sr., marked the beginning of Raymond’s contributions to the material handling industry. In its 92-year history, Raymond has developed and patented technologies that have become industry standards, including the hydraulic hand pallet truck and the double-faced wooden pallet.  

“Raymond consistently has been recognized for its expertise in developing optimized solutions that improve our customers’ bottom lines,” says Mike Field, president of operations and engineering at The Raymond Corporation. “Today, Raymond continues its tradition of leadership by improving material handling performance through new data-rich products and emerging technologies, which continue to raise the bar.” 

Raymond celebrated this milestone at its main locations in Greene; Syracuse, New York; and Muscatine, Iowa.