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