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.