Cascade Manufacturing Company was founded in 1943 in Portland, Oregon as a small machine shop employing just four people. The first recorded sales revenues involved the machining and assembly of stainless steel valves, pipe fittings and other components. Sales for the first year of operation totaled $60,000. Cascade Corporation is an international company engaged in the manufacture of materials handling products that are widely used on industrial fork lift trucks, and, to a lesser extent, on construction, mining and agricultural vehicles. The Company's products are primarily manufactured with the Cascade and Cascade-Kenhar names and symbols, for which Cascade has secured trademark protection. The primary function of these products is to provide the lift truck with the capability of engaging, lifting, carrying and depositing various types of loads and products.