In 1938, Harlow Crooks borrowed heavily and gave up a secure job with a local electric utility to form an equal partnership with Russell Kirkhof. Although this move took courage, it certainly was not foolhardy. At that time, the conversion of the local power system from 30 Hertz to 60 Hertz required the rewinding of thousands of electric motors. The challenge was to get their share of this business.
Along with motor repairs, Harlo Corporation designed and built electric control panels. The design and construction of control panels, including entire power plant main control systems and nuclear power plant control systems, had become our specialty.
Harlo Corporation’s Control Panel Division is renowned for its high quality product and innovative engineering. This has allowed us to expand our markets from the entire United States throughout the world.
In the late 1940's the company entered the fabricating business with government contracts to manufacture mast assemblies for forklift trucks built for the U.S. Navy. Once in the business, the company developed a niche within a specialty - mast assemblies for rough terrain forklifts. Today, this division is known as the Material Handling Division of Harlo Products. Russell Kirkhof remained active until the early 50's when he withdrew for other business interests. Harlo Products was established in 1958 as a subsidiary of Kirkhof Electric. Kirkhof Electric was then renamed Harlo Corporation in 1964.
In the early 1980’s Harlo Products manufactured forklifts using both a Massey Ferguson and Ford chassis. In 1986, Harlo Products partnering with John Deere produced its first complete in house production unit. Prior to the 1980’s, Harlo Products produced and sold mast assemblies and rough terrain forklift kits to OEM’s such as CASE, John Deere, Massey Ferguson and International Harvester. These OEM's assembled units in their own plants, and sold the forklifts through their own dealer network. Today, along with manufacturing rough terrain forklifts, Harlo Products continues to supply mast assemblies to OEM’s to be mounted on an array of products.
Presently, Harlo Products manufactures three basic models of rough terrain forklifts, which are marketed through our national and international dealer network. Harlo forklifts are powered by Cummins, John Deere and Caterpillar engines. In 1996, Harlo redesigned its manufacturing facility layout to accommodate assembly line production, increasing production to 3-4 units per day. To minimize equipment downtime in the field, its service department stocks a large variety of parts. As a result, parts can normally be shipped within 24 hours.
Harlow managed the company through the fifties, sixties and into the seventies. Harlow's two sons, Dale and Richard, held the positions of President and Vice-President respectively throughout the sixties, seventies, eighties, and early into the 1990's. Today, Harlo Corporation and Harlo Products Corporation remain a family owned business with Mary Helen Crooks serving as the Chief Executive Officer / President, and Craig Crooks as the Chairman of the Board.
