Sales
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Rentals
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Service
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Parts
Serving Suffolk County
& all of Long Island
Veteran Founded
Family Owned & Operated
Since 1969
About Us
Lifting Long Island Since 1969
Founded in 1969 by Korean War veteran Buddy Papish and led today by his son Glenn, Island Forklifts is a Long Island family business built on forklift know-how.
- Founded 1969
- Veteran Founded
- Family Owned & Operated
- Authorized Tailift Dealer
Where It Started
Built by a veteran
Island Forklifts was founded by Kenneth “Buddy” Papish following his service in the Korean War as a Combat Engineer and Tank Commander.
His service inspired him to go into heavy and farm equipment sales. He first launched Papish Equipment Co. out of his home garage in Eastern Long Island, then formally founded Island Forklifts in 1969.
Served first. Then built a business.
Today
Fifty years in the business
Glenn Papish joined his father’s business in 1976 and is now the owner and President of Island Forklifts.
With 50 years of experience, Glenn is a true forklift expert. He knows how to diagnose problems accurately, service equipment the right way and spot a quality machine. That expertise is what led him to make Island Forklifts an authorized Tailift dealer .
Every sale, rental, repair and part order still runs through the same family.
Why Island Forklifts
Why customers choose us
When you buy, rent or service a forklift, you want a dealer you can trust. Here is what you get with us.
In business since 1969
More than 55 years serving Long Island companies, built on doing right by every customer.
Family owned & operated
When you do business with us, you are treated like family. We are a Suffolk County family business and we take care of our customers that way.
Authorized Tailift dealer
Tailift is owned by Toyota Industries Corporation, the parent of Toyota Material Handling and the world’s largest forklift manufacturer.
Expert diagnosis & service
Glenn’s 50 years of experience means problems are properly diagnosed and equipment is serviced the right way.
New & used, many makes
New Tailift forklifts, plus quality used forklifts from many makes, so you can match the truck to your budget.
Parts for major makes
Nissan, CAT, Clark, Yale, Hyster, Toyota, Komatsu, TCM and more, backed by our own parts department.
Everything Under One Roof
Sales, rentals, service & parts
One local dealer for your whole fleet, serving Suffolk County and all of Long Island.
Sales
New Tailift and used forklifts from many makes.
Browse inventory →
Rentals
Forklifts, rough terrain forklifts, aerial and boom lifts and warehouse equipment.
See rentals →
Service
On-site service van and in-shop repairs.
Service department →
Parts
Replacement parts for all major makes.
Parts department →
Come see us in Manorville
Talk to the family that has been selling, renting and servicing forklifts on Long Island since 1969.
(631) 924-3100