Our History And Corporate Philosophy
The History of Carolina Handling.
In 1966, Don Pratt, then the National Sales Manager at Raymond corporate headquarters, acquired W. M. Anderson Company, an equipment distributor in the Carolinas. Beginning with just five Associates working in an old gas station, Pratt changed the company name to Carolina Handling and the company’s primary product line became Raymond electric narrow aisle lift trucks.
Over the next two years, Carolina Handling expanded into Georgia and by the spring of 1985 added Alabama and the central time zone of Florida as territories.
In 1989, Don Pratt retired and Tim Hilton, then the President of the company became the principal shareholder. In 2002, Jim Swittenburg was promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer; and Tim Hilton became the Chief Executive Officer.
The Raymond Corporation joined Carolina Handling, LLC as an equity partner in January 1995. This decision reflected both companies’ philosophy to build a true partnership and an even stronger network.
Today, Carolina Handling is one of the largest and fastest growing organizations in the material handling industry with over 400 Associates, five fully-staffed service facilities, a Corporate Training and Development Center, and strategically located sales and service personnel to better serve our customers.
Our Corporate Philosophy.
Carolina Handling is dedicated to promoting the finest material handling equipment, storage systems and product support. We are committed to excellence and innovation; we are pledged to mutually beneficial relationships. This is our corporate philosophy.
Carolina Handling is the exclusive dealer for Raymond in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and the central time zone of Florida. All branch locations operate according to a business plan stressing outstanding customer service, with an emphasis on leadership and management accountability. All Associates adhere to a common set of values. The most important of which are integrity, respect and teamwork. These values constitute a philosophy that guides all our activities, and govern our relationships with Associates, our shareholders, customers, suppliers, host communities and global ecology.
At Carolina Handling, we are proud of our relationship with The Raymond Corporation. Raymond believes that performance, productivity, quality and reliability are the cornerstones of all well-made products. Raymond also believes that continued investment in research and development to meet the changing needs of the marketplace is a must. The high standards set by Raymond are second to none and their respect in the material handling industry is well earned. Through partnering with The Raymond Corporation, Carolina Handling is positioned to deliver all the necessary components to be the best and most professional material handling dealership in North America.
A few years ago, our CEO, Tim Hilton, stopped in at a local car wash in Charlotte, NC, and as he walked through the lobby, a very distinct and somewhat odd painting caught his eye. He researched the picture and contacted the artist. Paul Rousso, a local Charlotte artist, and Tim had their first face-to-face meeting in February 2005. Tim's idea was to take Paul's basic collage concept and capture the heart and soul of Carolina Handling - our Associates. After several photo shoots and visits to our branches, by October 2005, Paul commissioned the first piece for our Charlotte headquarters named 'The Who of Carolina Handling'. This piece has been reproduced, and it is hanging in the lobby of each branch location.