Pettibone is celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Cary-Lift — the world’s first forward-reaching, rough-terrain material handler.
The Cary-lift was invented by Phil LaTendresse in 1949. Shortly after its origin, the Cary-Lift product line was acquired by Pettibone, and it remains a solution for pipe, pole and log handling to this day.
The inventor’s grandson, also named Phil LaTendresse, is currently Pettibone’s Director of Engineering and Product Support.
“A local sawmill owner was looking for a better solution for unloading logs, and that’s when my grandfather came up with the concept of being able to reach forward with a forklift, which inspired the first prototype Cary-Lift,” LaTendresse said.
“He built about 13 machines before selling the business to Pettibone Mulliken Corporation.”
The Cary-Lift provides design advantages compared to wheel loaders and other tools often used to move pipe, poles or similar materials, making the machine a popular choice for worksites all around the world.
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The unique overhead lift arm design gives the operator full front visibility, and its solid steel body frame allows the machine to take full loads into sharp turns without sacrificing stability.
“I see the future of the Cary-Lift as evolving, just like it always has,” LaTendresse said. “The first machines were in forestry. We evolved into pipe and pole handling. And we’re looking ahead toward diesel-electric hybrids and new applications, trying to find that next new niche.”
Founded in 1881, Pettibone/Traverse Lift is part of the Industrial Technologies Group, an affiliate of The Heico Companies
