Company History

Nexen Lift Trucks has a heritage deeply rooted in the lift truck and material handling industry, dating back to 1958. During this period, Kenneth Rudolph Oakes became actively involved with lift trucks while working in the motor vehicle sector. Recognising the strong long-term potential of forklift rental and materials handling solutions, he founded Power Equipment, one of the earliest forklift rental companies in the United Kingdom.

By 1970, the rapid success and expansion of Power Equipment attracted national attention, leading to its acquisition by Harvey Plant, a major UK plant hire company later known as Lex Harvey.

In 1974, William James Oakes, supported by his father Kenneth, established Waveney Lift Trucks. Through strong industry knowledge, customer-focused service, and operational excellence, the company grew to become the largest independent lift truck business in the UK, further strengthened by the launch of Lift Truck Rentals in 1985.

With decades of hands-on rental and fleet management experience, the Oakes family became increasingly dissatisfied with the growing complexity of modern forklift trucks and the lack of adequate manufacturer support for dealer networks. As a result, a strategic decision was made to develop an independent forklift brand built around simplicity, durability, and reliability.

In 2003, Nexen Lift Trucks was officially established, bringing together over 70 years of combined lift truck rental and operational experience. The vision was clear: to design and manufacture high-quality forklifts that deliver outstanding reliability, robust build quality, and competitive pricing, while achieving global brand recognition in the material handling industry.

An initial joint venture with an Asian manufacturer was formed to produce Nexen forklifts under license. However, this approach was soon discontinued due to inconsistent quality standards and high production costs, which did not align with Nexen’s long-term objectives.

In 2007, Nexen took a decisive step forward by acquiring the second-largest forklift manufacturer in Taiwan, leading to the formation of Nexen Motor Corporation. Existing forklift models were immediately improved, and a European-based engineering and design team was established to develop an entirely new generation of forklifts from the ground up, engineered to meet Nexen’s exacting standards.

Later that same year, the global financial recession presented significant challenges across the industry. Despite the difficult economic climate, Nexen successfully remained operational and profitable, while many competitors exited the market. Today, Nexen continues to expand its product range and global presence, building on a legacy of resilience, engineering expertise, and commitment to quality in the forklift and material handling sector