COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 3531

Construction Machinery & Equipment

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

13companies1868–1991founding years12still active1no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedDeere & Company
1868
FoundedClark Equipment Company
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedGehl Company
1904
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedTerex Corporation
1925
FoundedKubota Corporation
1930
1931
EconomyThe Empire State Building rises in just over a year.
1937
EconomyThe Golden Gate Bridge opens as the world's longest suspension span.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedManitou BF S.A.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedTenneco Inc.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedVermeer Manufacturing Company
1948
FoundedPubco Corporation
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedLinamar Corporation
1966
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedSudbury Inc.
1983
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedABC Rail Products Corporation
1987
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedNew Holland N.V.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Deere & Company →
Active · founded 1868
One of the five oldest companies in the United States, Deere & Company is the world's largest manufacturer of…
Clark Equipment Company →
Defunct · founded 1903
Clark Equipment Company designs, manufactures, and sells industrial trucks, tractors, and motor vehicle parts as well…
Gehl Company →
Active · founded 1904
The Gehl Company is one of the oldest manufacturing firms in the midwestern United States.
Terex Corporation →
Active · founded 1925
Terex Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets heavy-duty, off-highway construction, earth-moving, and…
Kubota Corporation →
Active · founded 1930 · Japan
Kubota Corporation prides itself on being flexible and adjusting as necessary to compete under changing economic…
Manitou BF S.A. →
Active · founded 1945 · France
Manitou BF S.A.
Tenneco Inc. →
Active · founded 1947
Tenneco Inc.
Vermeer Manufacturing Company →
Active · founded 1948
An industrial leader in the design and production of specialized machinery for agriculture, construction, and tree…
Pubco Corporation →
Active · founded 1958
Pubco Corporation is a diversified company with an unusual mix of interests.
Linamar Corporation →
Active · founded 1966 · N1K 1B2
Canadian-based Linamar Corporation is one of the fastest-growing manufacturers of high precision machined and assembled…
Sudbury Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Sudbury Inc.
ABC Rail Products Corporation →
Active · founded 1987
A leader in the engineering, manufacturing, and marketing of original and replacement products for the freight…
New Holland N.V. →
Active · founded 1991 · The Netherlands
New Holland N.V.
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