Two legendtwo histories to discover.
‘47
Farmer and inventor, Edward Gideon “EG” Melroe founds Melroe Manufacturing Company in Gwinner in North Dakota. He bequeathed the company to his sons and sons-in-law in 1955.
Melroe developed the M60, the very first loader powered by the brand. The company also launches the M200, an upgraded version of the first Melroe charger and the M400, the world's first compact charger.
Melroe redesigned and rebranded its original skid-steer loader, introduced as model M440 “Melroe Bobcat”. The M440 becomes the first product launched by the company Melroe BobCat.
The M440 and M600 made their first entry as the first products presented on European ground. The M550E is also launched with a 10-horsepower electric motor for use inside boxcars and other dusty environments.
Sales top $25 million. Growing any larger requires Melroe brothers to either take their company public or find a buyer. In the end, they agree to sell to Clark Equipment Company of Buchanan, Michigan, a manufacturer of Clark forklifts, Michigan wheel loaders, road graders, axles and transmissions. Clark had tried and failed to build its own skid-steer loader, so buying Melroe is a logical alternate choice.
The M970 (Big Bob) and M371 (Mini Bob) chargers are launched, taking the place of the largest counter-rotating loader ever produced and the smallest compact loader ever built.
The industry's first safety film, "The Story of the Bobcat Kid," is produced to educate Bobcat dealer staff and customers, as well as high school and professional students, on safety best practices during use of a charger with differential direction.
Melroe introduces a new distinctive logo, the bobcat lynx head. In olden times, a division of Clark Equipment Company, Melroe became Melroe Company, a strategic unit of Clark Equipment Company.
Safety first. A device that provides additional protection for machine operators is installed on the new Bobcat 743 and other Series 40 loaders. Today, Bobcat dominates the industry with a wide range of operator safety training.
Bobcat becomes the first North American manufacturer to build compact excavators
Several major openings: The G-series chargers are the first to use a new luxury instrumentation system, providing essential charger monitoring and diagnostics in seven languages. The A220 is the first loader in the industry to combine AWS and slip steering
The launching of the 5600 Toolcat, a junction between a utility vehicle, a pick-up truck and a differential loader. Designed for the grounds maintenance market, it is the industry's first hydrostatic utility machine with integral steering for extremely tight operation.
Second generation 2200 Bobcat utility vehicle, offered both diesel and gas engine options.
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) honors Bobcat with its “Historic Landmark” award for the invention and development of the skid steer loader. The Bobcat loader is one of just a few dozen products to receive this honor, including such notables as the first John Deere plow and Eli Whitney’s cotton gin.
Bobcat is the first manufacturer to exceed 1,000,000 built loaders.
Today, BobCat is the industry leader in the design, manufacturing, marketing and distribution of compact equipment for the construction, landscaping, agriculture and construction industries and has the largest compact equipment distribution network in the world.
It is in New Castle, Ontario that Daniel Massey builds his first agricultural tools under the name Massey MFG Company.
The company is experiencing significant growth with the acquisition of innovative American equipment, such as the Ketchum lawn mower and the Massey mower.
With the significant progress of the company in agricultural equipment, Massey is invited for the first time at the International Industrial Exhibition.in Paris.
Canada’s top two farm equipment companies merged in 1891 to form Massey-Harris Limited.
Harry Ferguson filed a patent on the 3-point hitch, still use on almost all tractors today
Massey-Harris designs and builds he’s very first tractor - the General Purpose (GP)
Henry Ford and Harry Ferguson enter into partnership in 1938. Ford compares Ferguson to the Wright Brothers and Thomas Edison.
During the Second World War, Massey-Harris contributes to war by manufacturing some equipment, such as tanks, howitzers, and supports for naval guns.
The grey Ferguson TE20 tractor, first produced in Coventry, England, became a classic of the twentieth century.
Massey-Harris and Ferguson Companies Merged Simpson & Co. Ltd., founded in 1835, became the first overseas licensee of Perkins Engines, as of 1954 they became the longtime supplier of diesel engines for Massey-Harris tractors.
Sir Edmund Hillary –The first man to climb Mt. Everest – makes the first land crossing of Antarctica using converted Massey Ferguson tractors.
Massey Ferguson became the world’s best-selling tractor brand in 1962.
Launching of the first tractors 4WD MF1500 and MF1800, powered by the V8 diesel engine Caterpillar.
Massey Ferguson 205, the company's first compact tractor, entered the market in the same year as the electronic 3-point hitch.
Massey Ferguson is recognized by the Equipment Manufacturers Institute as one of the 100 companies that has contributed the most to the development of the agricultural industry
Massey Ferguson opens its doors to technology and innovation by adding to certain equipment a synchronized performance indicator at Global Positioning System to list yield during harvest.
Massey Ferguson celebrated the 150-year anniversary of the company’s origins. By this time, Massey Ferguson was being sold in 140 countries and had become the best-selling tractor brand in the world for the 35th consecutive year.
Massey Ferguson adopts ISOBUS technology, becoming the leader in plug-and-play functionality with other ISOBUS-compatible equipment
Massey Ferguson introduces the 9250 Dynaflex combine harvester. It features the industry's first cutting head with a fully flexible cutter bar, providing increased performance and capacity in soybean and small grain harvesting. Today, Massey Ferguson is part of the AGCO Corporation and is one of the biggest names in agricultural equipment in the world with a history of more than 150 years.
The Launching of the first Swing loader by Ahlmann in Büdelsdorf, Germany.
Creation of Mecalac's company: Mécanique du Lac in France in Annecy-le-Vieux.
Ahlmann launches the first front loaders
Launch of the 11CX, a multifunction machine produced by Mecalac that combines a shovel-loader, a lift and a full rotation tool holder. Launch of the 11CXi, fitted to Mecalac wheeled excavators with front stabilizers.
Ahlmann launches the AS4, the world's most compact loader, 4-wheel front-end loaders and the automatic transmission Swing loader. Launch of the new generation of Mecalac wheeled excavators featuring the 12MX and 14MXT models.
The Ahlmann company produces its 20 000th charger
The Ahlmann company based in Büdelsdorf, Germany, becomes an official subsidiary of the Mecalac Group
Launching of the MECALAC700 series, versatile city excavators in wheel and crawler versions. Launch of the 714 MW rail-road version of the AX line, a new generation of front-end loaders and production of the 10,000th Mecalac excavator.
In addition to the launching of the 8MCR a new machine concept for construction, Mecalac received several important awards: the Reddot Design Award for the charger on wheels AX85, the Gold Medal for innovation and the Special Prize of the environment at Intermat for the hybrid 12MTX, the Trophy INPI (National Institute of Industrial Property) Rhône-Alpes for its constant strategy based on innovation, a star to the Observeur du Design for the 8MCR and the Gold Medal innovation for the 8MCR fast track excavator at Demopark
The AX700, AX850 and AX1000, three models of articulated loaders, are presented with a new Highlift design and the AF1050 and AF1200 four-wheel front loaders are launched by the Ahlmann division. The new generation of AS700 four-wheel steerable wheel loaders and AS900 is also launched.
A global innovation for Mecalac with the launch of the 10MCR, a fast track excavator of 8.5 tons.
To support its international expansion strategy, the company Ahlmann Baumaschinen GmbH officially became Mecalac Baumaschinen GmbH in itself. The company launches the 6MCR prototype, presents the 8MCR RR (rail-road version), and also launches the AS900tele, a new telescopic Swing loader.
Commercial launching of the 6MCR and presentation to the Bauma of two new telescopic loaders: AT 900 and AT 1050.
Mecalac, once again awarded: Star of the Observeur du Design for the new 12MTX from the Ministry of the Economy, Design, Industry and Digital. Silver medal for the 12MTX at the Demopark show, Silver medal for the new CONNECT quick-fix at the Internat Paris show. 2016 Bauma Global Innovations Award Design Award, for the new wheel excavator concept - MWR -. Commercial launch of the 12MTX, the new series of articulated chargers AX and the AS 1600.
Today, the Mecalac Group is an international manufacturer of wheeled and tracks excavators and wheel loaders focusing on innovation, technology and sustainable development.
