The History of Blue Giant

Blue Giant is proud to have been a leader in the development, distribution and manufacturing of loading dock systems and material handling equipment since setting up shop in 1963. 

Through our ability to identify product development opportunities within the industry, Blue Giant has been able to stay on top of industry trends and create tools that maximize our customers' efficiency and safety.

Blue Giant: Our Beginnings 

Blue Giant was founded May 30, 1963, by founder Kurt Larsen (1929-2013). Larsen was born in a small town in Sorø County in Western Zealand. After experiencing the hardships and tragedies of WWII, Larsen was eventually called up for military service in 1950 in Copenhagen, where he would remain for the next 18 months. 

After completing his basic training, Larsen was assigned to his duty as a truck driver when he was not performing his assigned duty as “the Queen’s Ordinance” as part of his role in the Royal Life Guards. 

During his time in Corporal school, Larsen was exposed to various industrial machinery, which sparked his inspiration to start Blue Giant. Shortly after completing his military service, Larsen began his adventure by visiting Canada for what he thought would be just 18 months. 

While in Canada, Larsen worked in many manual labor jobs and learnt a great deal about the Canadian business ropes through these experiences. Larsen fell in love with Canada, and in 1963, he took the opportunity to start his own business, which today, we know as Blue Giant.

Blue Giant Dock Levelers and Hand Pallet Trucks 

When Larsen first started Blue Giant, his initial product offerings were Dock Levelers and Hand Pallet Trucks - both of which he gained significant experience with during his time working in Canada and during military service. Within a year of opening, Blue Giant began introducing new products, such as electric pallet trucks and stackers, dock lifts, and scissor lifts, to keep up with the company’s rapidly expanding customer base.

Blue Giant’s Global Expansion 

By 1979, licensee partnerships in South Africa and Australia meant that Blue Giant dominated the material handling equipment industry in both countries. 

Over the next 20 years, Blue Giant would go on to acquire licensee partnerships in Mexico and Southeast Asia. By 1999, Blue Giant received significant orders from overseas, including a famous order for 309 mechanical dock levelers placed by the Singapore Port Authority.
 
Blue Giant has continued to grow and expand throughout the past few years. In 2017, Blue Giant announced a new headquarters location in Mississauga, Ontario. The advanced facility upgraded its 80,000 sq. ft. location in Brampton to nearly twice the capacity – 150,000 sq. ft. in Mississauga.
 
As of 2019, Blue Giant has expanded to four locations employing 250+ employees, a New Headquarters facility, Blue Giant Solutions (3.500 sq/ ft.), Manufacturing in Greensboro, North Carolina (40,000 sq. ft.), and Manufacturing in Louisville, KY. Closing out the year, the company purchased Verti-Lift in December, successfully rebranding the business as Blue Giant Lifts.
 
Continuing to build on its support for businesses with multiple facilities, Nation C.A.R.E. became its own business model in 2021, providing a centralized contact and billing location for businesses with a need to standardize goals for their equipment, safety, and productivity requirements.
 
In February of 2022, the company made a significant investment in its new Scissor Lift Table Facility in KY, USA. The space is upgraded from 14,000 sq. ft. and two shipping docks to 65,000 sq. ft. premises with 10 shipping docks.

Fall of 2022 was busy, with Blue Giant acquiring a controlling interest in ergonomic lift assist solutions company Cormac Industrial. The company has started offering these solutions across North America. In November 2022, the company also opened its Courtney Park Facility for the Aftermarket/Customer Experience Team and Blue Genius Controls Manufacturing.

In 2023, the company celebrated its 60th Anniversary of serving the needs of customers around the world, with various celebrations throughout the year.

Blue Giant’s Product Development 

For the first decade of the 2000s, Blue Giant primarily focused on developing their products and introducing new designs to their product offerings. The new millennium saw the birth of the Extra Dock Safety Series in 2001, the only dock system that reduces the risk of forklift run-off and overhead door damage simultaneously. 

Then there was the invention of the Blue Genius™ Touch Control Panel, which to this day has revolutionized the operation of dock levelers as operators can control warehouse operations with just the touch of a button. 
 
In addition to other Blue Giant products invented during this time, such as the U-Series Dock Leveler, the StrongArm™ SVR303 Vehicle Restraint won the Plant Engineering’s Product of the Year competition in 2009. The StrongArm™ HVR303 Electric Vehicle Restraint was later invented in 2011 along with the Air Cylinder Series, making it the industry’s first air cylinder dock equipment system. 
 
At the start of 2016, Blue Giant launched an Elite Series of inflatable dock seals and shelters that present a versatile form of loading dock protection, with the ability to service the widest variety of trucks and trailers. Blue Giant continued as a leader in safety products with the launch of the Interlock Chock (ITC) Vehicle Restraint system in 2019.
 
In February 2018, Blue Giant launched ConfigureBLUE TM 2.0, an update to its online configuration and quoting system. One of the most sophisticated and comprehensive quoting tools in the industry, ConfigureBLUE TM makes product selection and quotation faster, smarter, and better than ever.

In fact, the company implemented a second shift at its Admiral Location in 2021 to meet the growing demand for Blue Giant products. One year later, Gerard Biasutto was nominated to become Chairman Loden and accepted the position of Director, Product Management.

Blue Giant LLC and Blue Genius™

In 2013, Blue Giant launched its first U.S. operation, Blue Giant LLC. The company cut the ribbon on their new manufacturing facility in Greensboro, North Carolina. 

The primary focus for the new location was the manufacturing and distribution of the company’s growing line of innovative Dock Seals and Shelters. The line included rain shrouds, stationary and retractable truck shelters, fixed and inflatable seals, and full access seals. It would be here that Blue Giant’s flagship dock leveler, the Vertical Storing Dock Leveler, would launch in 2014. 

2013 also saw the launch of Blue Giant’s premium product line, Blue Genius™, which incorporates the same features as the Blue Giant Gold Series, while offering expanded equipment functionality.

What’s in Store for Blue Giant in the Future? 

As we look to the future, Blue Giant shows no signs of slowing down innovation or production. The company is currently researching and experimenting with the control aspect of material handling equipment, especially as it relates to dock levelers. 

Blue Giant’s flagship dock leveler model – the Vertical Storing Dock Leveler – has already achieved several industry milestones with its ability to effectively maintain consistent temperatures, reduce energy wastage, prevent contamination, and protect the safety of warehouse workers. The company plans to go even further. 

Blue Giant’s ambition is to eventually increase automation in the loading and unloading process of delivery trucks. Through the advancement of loading dock controls, Blue Giant is working to improve safety measures within the warehouse while maximizing efficiency. 

Blue Giant's mission statement is “Our strength is our people, and our passion is our product.” This includes a laser focus on educating not selling. In May 2019, the company celebrated the 5-year anniversary of Blue Giant University with nearly 500 students passing through the program. Blue Giant promises to keep innovating new ways to expand and provide further efficiency to your business.

The Blue Giant Approach 

Blue Giant always takes a customer-centric business approach. The company has transformed the material handling industry with every ergonomic and industrial solution it provides, and does it so you can revolutionize your business. Blue Giant is proud to be a global leader in the manufacturing, distribution, and development of loading dock safety systems. 

If you want to find out more about Blue Giant products or are wondering which models are a good fit for your space, contact a member of our support team. Blue Giant’s professional staff would be more than happy to help you with any questions that you may have.