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Gehl
Gehl Company will manufacture and distribute quality
equipment to selective segments of the construction and agricultural markets at
a fair return to our shareholders.
Company
History
The Gehl Company is one the first manufacturing firms
from the Midwestern United States. The company produces wide range of
construction equipment, skid loaders and rough terrain telescopic forklifts. In
addition, Gehl Company manufactures agricultural equipment used daily for
livestock framing and is recognized as a leading non tractor manufacturing
industry, with a competitive produce range of hay-makers, forage harvesters,
feed makers, manure handlers and materials handlers. The company has had
cutting edge technology in construction and agricultural equipment industry,
and has introduced highly innovative and durable machinery.
Early
History
Roots of Gehl Company start at 1859, when Louis Lucas
opened an iron foundry in central Wisconsin. Lucas planned to manufacture plows
and cultivators and for the repair of farm implements. In 1902, John W. Gehl
acquired part interest in buying the firm of Lucas and Silberzahn. One year
later Gehl, asked his brothers Mike, Henry and Nick to join him and buy all the
assets of Lucas and Silberzahn. By 1904 the Gehl Brothers Manufacturing Company
was producing a wide range of farm tools. In the next two years the company has
taken a next step forward and began to consider manufacturing more innovative
farm equipment. As Gehl Company continued to grow in the early part of the 20th
century, the firm has received a reputation as one of the most reliable and
innovative farm equipment operations in the Midwest. By the 1920's, the company
was the #1 leader in the region.
Growth
and Expansion During 1960s, 1970s and 1980s
In 1970, Gehl Company has decided to enter a new
industry and introduced its very own skid steer loader. The Gehl loader had unique
controls that enabled the driver to control the entire machine with simple hand
controls as a result it became very popular within the construction industry.
By the 1973, went international in marking subsidiary in West Germany, Gehl
Gmbh, to sell its skid loaders in EU, Middle East and African markets. Gehl was
also first to design a totally hydraulic grinding mixer.
The decade of the 1980s was the best ever for the
company. Gehl experienced explosive growth in all of its construction and
agricultural equipment product lines.
The
1990s and Beyond
During the early 1990's as everything began to change,
a slower economy and higher interests rates placed Gehl in still its expansion
state, in trouble. By 1992, management
was forced to scale back its strategic acquisitions policy and re-evaluate its
future policies. A new management team, more conservative and more than willing
to eliminate undesirable produce lines, was brought in to reorganize and revive
the firm. Although sales have fallen to $153 million in 95, the company's
products began to sell more quickly in 96.
The company continued to push the new construction
equipment line, with newly designed skid loaders, rough terrain telescopic
forklifts, Power box asphalt pavers, and an improved line of material handlers.
Gehl relied heavily on its agricultural equipment product line, that included
machines for hay making, forage harvesting, feed making, manure handling and
materials handling. Many of the company's agricultural products have become
standard equipment in the industry. The company has focused on designing and
manufacturing high quality and dependable equipment over the years.
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