OUR STORY
About Us
The Early Days of Ring Power Lift Trucks
Randy Ringhaver considers Ring Power's Lift Trucks division to be the company's leading economic indicator. Almost every business needs to handle and store materials at some point, and thus, requires some type of forklift or other material handling equipment. Therefore, when we see forklift sales increase, it is a signal that the overall economy is about to trend up.
In 1974 when L.C. Ringhaver established the ‘Ring Lift’ which is now known as Ring Power Lift Trucks. This was the company's first major expansion, and it was significant in itself, but the real significance lay in how Ring Power embraced the opportunity.
The idea of selling and servicing forklifts originated with Caterpillar® in Peoria, Illinois. Ringhaver already had a strong relationship with in the marine engine and heavy equipment business centers of Cat® and knew he could trust their vision. Caterpillar saw it as a fresh business opportunity to be seized, L.C. saw it as a chance to expand his customer base considerably. Although he and his colleagues did not know much about forklifts and what it took to sell and service them—they were successful in making the leap from shrimp boats to bulldozers, how hard could forklifts be?
Ring Power's Lift Trucks division has been successful over the years, even adding additional products to meet the demands of their ever-growing customer base, but there was a learning curve at first.
“There was a much different sales strategy. Initially, we tried to apply Cat® techniques, but then we had to adjust,” Ringhaver adds modestly, “we’ve made a pretty good business out of it.”
Continually seeking new business opportunities became an ongoing strategy and the very fabric of the company's operation. Today Ring Power Lift Trucks fields requests for forklifts, Automated Guided Vehicles, warehouse racking, telematics, navigation, and industrial scrubbers & sweepers in North & Central Florida.
60 Years Serving Florida
From our earliest beginnings as DESCO, a shrimp boat manufacturer in St. Augustine, Fla. in the 1950s, our focus has always been on our customers.
Ring Power Corporation Appointed Full-Line Cat® Dealer
There were no shortage of candidates, but in the end Caterpillar® determined L.C. Ringhaver was the best candidate and awarded Ring Power Corporation the appointment as a full- line Caterpillar® dealer in 1962. Ring Power Corporation grew extensively under Ring's leadership, adding multiple new divisions and building new facilities across the state of Florida in places like Jacksonville, Ocala, and Tampa.
One Company. One Vision.
The turn of the century heralded big changes for Ringhaver Equipment Company and Ring Power Corporation. After 14 years of operating separately, health issues precipitated plans for Lance's retirement.
Lance's retirement in December 2003 afforded the opportunity to combine the two sister companies into one organization and Caterpillar® approved the merger of the two dealerships as Ring Power. Today Randy Ringhaver serves as President and Chairman of Ring Power Corporation.
Coming Full Circle
In 2005 Ring Power moved into its new corporate headquarters in St. Augustine, just a dozen miles or so from where L.C. Ringhaver started it all in 1947. Today, Ring Power Corporate headquarters in St. Augustine oversees the operations of 18 branch locations throughout the state of Florida.
There are 11 branches where Lift Trucks operates out of. The home office is located at 8040 Philips Hwy. in Jacksonville, FL and the other facilities are strategically placed to provide full-coverage to our customers in our territory: Daytona, Gainesville, Lakeland, Ocala, Orlando, Sarasota, St. Pete, Tallahassee, and Tampa.
1947
L.C. Ringhaver leaves Cleveland, Ohio for St. Augustine where he begins working at Diesel Engine Sales Company (DESCO)
1957
L.C. Ringhaver becomes the sole owner of DESCO
1961
Caterpillar® appoints L.C. Ringhaver as a Florida Cat® engine dealer
1962
Ring Power Corporation becomes a full-line Caterpillar® dealer for North Florida
1974
Ring Power announces the addition of the new Lift Trucks Division: Ring Lift
1976
Lance Ringhaver named president following the passing of L.C. Ringhaver
1986
Ringhaver Equipment Company formed as Cat® dealer for the Central Florida territory
1988
Ring Lift entered Central Florida under the Ringhaver Equipment Company
1992
Entered a partnership with Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklifts America (MCFA)
2001
Ring Lift expanded it's footprint to the South Florida market
2004
Ring Power and Ringhaver Equipment Company merge
2006
Ring Lift becomes Ring Power Lift Trucks and receives a new logo.
2017
Ring Power Lift Trucks reached an all-time high in demand for parts and opened Parts Depots in our outlying markets.
2020
Increased representation on the west coast of Central Florida by adding a facility in St. Pete
today
Ring Power Lift Trucks provides premium equipment and services to support a huge range of material handling needs throughout North and Central Florida. We represent Caterpillar, Kalmar, Jungheinrich, Big Joe, and a wide range of allied suppliers to offer state-of-the-art technologies, automation, and support services to every type of business imaginable: farmers, builders, large shipping companies, small mom-and-pop businesses, as well as massive warehouse and logistics companies.
WHAT REMAINS UNCHANGED AFTER 60 YEARS? IT'S THE CHARACTER, AND CULTURE, AND THE COMMITMENT OF OUR PEOPLE.