Service Area — OH

Forklifts in Kent, OH

New and used forklift sales, rental and service in Kent, OH. Kent has many older mill-era buildings that now house new tenants, and we fit forklifts to those tight spaces as well as to newer plants.

Clark electric forklift working between tall stacks of tote containers in a warehouse
41.1537°N · 81.3579°W — Kent, OH

Serving Kent, OH and surrounding areas. Get a free estimate today.

What we sell

Forklifts & Equipment for Kent

We deliver new, used and rental lift trucks to Kent and service them on site. Akron Forklifts is run by Valley Industrial Trucks, an employee-owned Ohio forklift dealer founded in 1956.

Forklift Brands

We sell new Bobcat, Clark, Noblelift, Sellick and Bulmor trucks across Kent, and inspected used trucks from every major make.

BobcatClarkNobleliftSellickBulmorJLGGenieKärcherToyotaHysterYaleCatMitsubishiDoosanCrown
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Local specs

Kent at a glance

  • Typical clear heights: 12–20 ft clear in older stock, 20–30 ft clear in newer buildings.
  • Local fleets mostly serve light manufacturing, small warehousing, university-linked research and start-ups.
  • Older buildings (12–20 ft clear) run standard masts. Newer 20–30 ft clear buildings need lift height specified to the top beam, not to the truck's nameplate.
  • Most Kent fleets are mixed after a few years of buying. We service every make in the building, not only the brands we sell.

Local expertise

Forklifts in Kent, OH

Kent has many older mill-era buildings that now house new tenants, and we fit forklifts to those tight spaces as well as to newer plants. Kent is a Portage County city on the Cuyahoga River, home to Kent State University. SR-59 (Haymaker Parkway) is the main east-west road and SR-43 is the main north-south road. SR-43 runs south to I-76 at Exit 33. The city says open land for new building is limited. That is why reusing existing buildings is one of its stated economic goals. For a forklift buyer, that means low ceilings, posts, ramps and older docks are common. Mast height and turning room matter more here than raw capacity.

Forklifts for older Kent buildings

Kent grew as a mill and railroad town. The Kent Industrial District, on both banks of the river downtown, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Mogadore Road was home to one of the longest-running factory sites in the city.

Older buildings like these bring a few common limits:

  • Low doors and beams that need a low-profile mast
  • Narrow aisles and posts that favor compact electric trucks
  • Worn or sloped floors where tire choice matters

We measure the building first. Then we match the truck to the doorway, the aisle and the load.

The SR-59 corridor and university research

Kent State runs Centennial Research Park along SR-59, in a joint economic district with Franklin. The park houses high-tech start-ups in the liquid crystal field. Smaller labs and light assembly spaces often need a pallet jack or walkie stacker more than a full-size forklift.

From the historic mill buildings along the Cuyahoga River to the SR-59 corridor, fleets follow the building stock. One side is older brick and block buildings from the mill and railroad era, often reused for new tenants. The other side is newer single-story light-industrial and research buildings along the main state roads. Which one you occupy decides mast height, tire type and battery chemistry.

Forklift Sales & Service in Kent, OHSERVED FROM OUR AKRON BRANCH

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Straight answers

Kent questions

1

What forklift works in an older Kent building with low doors?

A compact electric forklift with a low-profile mast works best in most older Kent buildings. We check the door height, the lowest beam and the aisle width before we quote. That way the truck fits the first day.

2

Do you rent forklifts in Kent for short jobs?

Yes. We rent forklifts in Kent by the day, week or month, and long-term too. Short rentals suit move-ins, fit-outs and busy seasons.

3

Can you train our Kent operators on site?

Yes. We run OSHA operator training at your Kent location, on your own trucks and in your own aisles. Federal OSHA rule 1910.178 covers forklift training for private employers in Ohio.

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