HAMMAR Lift Inc.

2006 HAMMAR Lift Inc. was incorporated in the US, with Sales Office in Dana Point and production in Grand Terrace, California. In 2008, the company moved to a bigger facility in Fontana, sharing space and tooling at Superior Trailers, and the sales office was moved to Laguna Niguel, CA.

The company is producing and marketing the self loading container trailer, or the Sideloader, under the brand name HAMMAR for the US and North American Market. The cranes and the trailer beams are manufactured in Sweden, but all other trailer components to make a semi trailer; suspension wheels, brakes and lights are all US sourced quality components. This is done, so that on-the-road-service can be done at any qualified trailer repair shop anywhere in the US or in Canada. Trailers are finished and assembled and the cranes fitted in California….. all run by Hammar Lift, Inc.

Hammar Lift, Inc. is a Licensed Californian Manufacturer of trailers and has a Pre Clerance with Canadian Transport Canada for export of the HAMMAR trailers to Canada.

History

The story of the parent company, Hammar Maskin, is a classic story of entrepreneurship from the parts of Sweden traditionally known for small business tradition. It began when Bengt-Olof Hammar was studying at Chalmers University of Technology and was doing a dissertation about Sideloaders. He borrowed some start-up capital, designed a prototype, packed his Volkswagen Beetle with photo slides and documentation and started travelling the length and breadth of Sweden, trying to sell his product. Eventually, the owner of a haulage firm had the courage to buy the prototype. Bengt-Olof Hammar used the proceeds from the sale of the prototype to purchase raw material for four new Sideloaders. And that's how it all started.

The first factory was built in Olsfors in 1975. A modest building with a floor area of 3000 square feet. After only two years the factory had to be enlarged to three times that size.

Since then the factory has grown step by step. Today, HAMMAR sideloaders are built in our modern spacious, 136 700 ft², workshop flexibly adapted for the work.
More historical information in our 35 years Anniversary brochure.

History in brief

1974 - Bengt-Olof Hammar designs his first sideloader.
1979 - Volvo orders 11 HAMMAR. The factory is extended again.
1981 - Hammar buys Kalmar LMV's sideloader production line.
1984 - The US Army orders 10 HAMMAR.
1985 - The company moves to larger premises outside Olsfors.
1987 - Delivery of the first 150 model.
1988 - Hammar designs the world's first sideloader for 45-foot containers.
1992 - Christian Olsson's TRIOLIFT sideloader production line in Gothenburg is purchased.
1995 - Hammar Australia Pty Ltd is established.
1996 - The factory is extended by 21,500 sqft.
1998 - Hammar New Zealand Ltd is established. The first HAMMAR 190 is built.
2002 - Work begins on extending the Olsfors factory by a further 21,500 sqft.
2003 - Hammar Malaysia is established.
2004 - 30 years anniversary, Hammar celebrates the best year ever with record sales.
2005 - The patented HAMMAR Gooseneck chassis is launched.
2006 - 2006 HAMMAR Lift Inc. is incorporated in the US, with Sales Office in Dana Point and production in Grand Terrace, California
2008 - The 500th HAMMAR is delivered in Australia and the 250th in Malaysia.
2009 - 35 years anniversary. Total work space area 136 700 ft².

Please visit our Group website, www.hammar.eu for the Hammar Group history.