The corporation Pinguely-Haulotte was just named the Haulotte Group in 2005. The change in name was the first time in 124 years the name has not included Pinguely. The Haulotte Group is popular for manufacturing telescopic work platforms, articulated work platforms, trailer mounted work platforms, vertical mast-work platforms and scissor lifts.
The Haulotte Group obtained Bil-Jax, Inc. on the 24th of July, the year 2008. Bil-Jax is the largest US scaffold manufacturer. Currently, Haulotte Group has three plants in France, one factory in Spain, one plant in Romania, near Pitesti City. There is a new plant that opened during the winter of 2008. This plant is just 1 km away from the existing factory near Pitesti City in the County of Arges. The factory is known as Arges II. There are also two plants in the USA, the former Bill-Jax.
Pinguely
The company was established in the year 1881 in Lyon, France by Alexandre Pinguely. The company initially build steam locomotives. The business evolved into making machinery eventually. During the year 1892, they provided a steam engine to the Chemin de Fer de St Victor a Thizy.
Pinguely provided 7 locomotives to the Voiron-Saint-Beron railway. In terms of numbers produced, Pinguely was not a main locomotive manufacturer. The company supplied a steam train to the Chemin de Fer du Haut-Rhone during the year 1930 and by the year 1932, Pinguely started making steam shovels. Production of steam locomotives was stopped and the company began focusing instead on mobile cranes and making earthmoving machines instead.
Haulotte
In the year 1924, Haulotte was established in L'Horme by Arthur Haulotte. The company was called Ateliers de Construction A. Haulotte. This business specialized in manufacturing mobile cranes, derricks and aerial platforms.
Pinguely-Haulotte
Manufacturing it was decided to be sub-contracted to Pinguely-Haulotte, who was to be responsible for the marketing and engineering, research, design and development. All products were abandoned by Saubot so that the business could focus on self-propelled aerial work platforms.