Raymond Central’s seven decades of growth and innovation to the industry.
By Nicole Needles
FOR NEARLY 70 years, Raymond Central’s roots have been intertwined with the evolution of the material handling industry in the Central United States.
The story traces back to The Raymond Corporation, founded in 1922 when George Raymond Sr. purchased Lyon Iron Works in Greene, New York. The company officially became The Raymond Corporation in 1950 and, in 2001, was acquired by Toyota Industries Corporation, strengthening its global reach.
Raymond Central’s journey began in 1956 when John Heubel founded Heubel Material Handling Inc., establishing the Raymond dealership for the Kansas City region, covering western Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. In 1984, Dick and Al Shaw launched Shaw Material Handling Systems Inc. to serve Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi.
The two dealerships built strong reputations independently before joining forces in 2012. In April 2025, they formally unified under one name: Raymond Central. Today, the company employs more than 420 associates across 10 states and operates nine support centers.
Bringing together two long-standing dealerships required intentional cultural alignment.
“Culture is extremely important to us,” Adam Hilton, president and CEO of Raymond Central, said. “Bringing together two long-standing material handling dealerships required creating a unified environment where every associate feels included and part of one team.”
That shared purpose shapes how the company serves customers. Formed from two independent operations, Raymond Central places a premium on communication and trust, while leveraging the broader Raymond dealer network across North America.
“Our teams respect local knowledge, value long-term partnerships and work together across multiple states to support our customers with a consistent level of service,” Hilton said.
The material handling industry has transformed dramatically over the decades. “Technology, automation and data-driven operations have become central to how customers run their warehouses and distribution centers,” Hilton said. Equipment is more advanced, safety standards are higher and expectations for uptime continue to increase.
Customer demands have shifted from simply purchasing forklifts to seeking comprehensive operational support.
“Today, customers expect far more,” Hilton said. They are looking for partners who can provide solutions for their entire operation or business, not just their lift trucks.” That includes fleet management, telematics, automation and warehouse optimization.
“The shift has moved from buying equipment to seeking a full-service, one-stop partner.”
In response, Raymond Central focuses on understanding each customer’s unique business challenges and aligning solutions to improve efficiency and reduce the total cost of ownership. “We continue to prioritize building trust with our customers by partnering with them to understand their business needs, provide comprehensive intralogistics solutions and help maximize their business potential,” Hilton said.
The industry faces rapid technological advancement, economic volatility and increasing safety requirements. Still, leadership sees opportunity ahead.
“I see our company continuing to invest in our associates, growing our team and continually working to improve our operations to better support our customers,” Hilton said. “Our solutions offerings will continue to grow and evolve to meet the ever changing needs of our customers.”
From two family-founded dealerships to a unified, 10-state organization, Raymond Central’s growth reflects both industry change and a lasting commitment to service.
