Donkey Forklifts, a division of Hol-Mac Corporation, is marking 40 years in the truck-mounted forklift industry, highlighting the brand’s evolution from a Colorado-based startup to a Mississippi manufacturing operation serving multiple industries.
Founded in 1985 by engineer Kenton C. “Ken” Ensor Jr., Donkey Forklifts introduced a lightweight, compact truck-mounted forklift designed to ride directly on delivery trucks, eliminating the need for trailers. The concept was inspired by the sure-footed donkeys that once hauled materials through the Rocky Mountains.
“Ken didn’t just change how materials reach jobsites — he redefined what a truck-mounted forklift could do,” said Jamie Holder, president of Hol-Mac Corporation. “From the beginning, Donkey earned a reputation for being pound-for-pound the strongest, lightest and fastest forklift in the industry. That legacy of thoughtful engineering and intentional design is what still drives us to this day.”
For nearly three decades, Donkey forklifts were manufactured in Denver under Quality Corporation. In the mid-2000s, Hol-Mac began supplying parts, service and support for the brand, forming a relationship with Ensor rooted in shared values. In 2016, Ensor selected Hol-Mac to acquire the company, citing trust and a shared vision of expanding the Donkey brand globally.
Ensor was honored with the Turfgrass Producers International (TPI) Innovator of the Year Award in 2017 for his contributions to material handling. He passed away in 2022.
Today, Donkey Forklifts are designed and manufactured in Bay Springs, Mississippi, at Hol-Mac’s Plant 1 facility. The operation sits near the original barn door where Hol-Mac founder Charles B. Holder Jr. began Southern Machine & Welding in 1963, a feature now preserved inside Donkey’s Quality Assurance bay.
“The Rocky Mountain spirit that started it all now lives in the heart of Mississippi,” Holder said. “Every Donkey that leaves our facility carries American steel, American hands and stubbornly high standards that neither Ken nor my father ever compromised.”
The company serves industries including construction, agriculture, turfgrass, landscaping and logistics. Its product lineup includes truck-mounted forklifts with capacities ranging from 3,000 to 5,500 pounds, featuring both mechanical and hydrostatic systems.
Recent innovations include the Burro Volt, described as the first all-electric, truck-carried walk-behind forklift made in the United States, offering a reported 30-hour runtime.
To commemorate its 40th anniversary, Donkey Forklifts will display the First-Generation Donkey forklift at the Turfgrass Producers International (TPI) 2026 International Education Conference & Field Day in Tucson, Arizona, scheduled for February 16–19, 2026.
The original unit reflects the design priorities that helped the brand gain early adoption among turfgrass producers, including lightweight construction, low ground pressure and efficient unloading in challenging environments.
“Having the First-Generation Donkey on display at TPI is a full-circle moment,” Holder said. “The turfgrass industry helped shape Donkey from the very beginning. This is where it started — the platform we’ve continued to improve, innovate, and build on for forty years.”
Alongside the historic forklift, Donkey will showcase current models, including The Jack hydrostatic forklift, a mechanical 4K model and the Burro Volt electric unit.
The company will also contribute $5,000 to the Bob Weerts Memorial Scholarship Fund in support of education and workforce development within the turfgrass industry.
Donkey Forklifts operates as part of the Hol-Mac family of brands, which includes Pac-Mac Refuse & Recycling Equipment, Huber Vacuum Equipment and Hammerhead Armor, employing more than 950 workers across seven manufacturing facilities.
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