In 2005, the corporation Pinguely-Haulotte was renamed Haulotte Group. This name change brought the end of the Pinguely name after 124 years! The Haulotte Group is known for manufacturing articulated work platforms, telescopic work platforms, vertical mast-work platforms, scissor lifts and trailer mounted work platforms.
The Haulotte Group acquired Bil-Jax, Inc. on July 24th, 2008. Bil-Jax is the biggest US scaffold manufacturer. Now, Haulotte Group has three factories in France, one plant in Spain, one in Romania, near Pitesti City. There is a new factory that opened during the winter of the year 2008. This plant is just 1 km away from the existing plant near Pitesti in the County of Arges. The factory is called Arges II. There are also two plants in the United States, the former Bill-Jax.
Pinguely
The company was formed during the year 1881 within Lyon, France by Alexandre Pinguely. The company first build steam engines. The company eventually evolved into making machines. During the year 1892, they provided a steam engine to the Chemin de Fer de St Victor a Thizy.
Pinguely supplied 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 locomotive to the Chemin de Fer du Haut-Rhone in the year 1930 and by the year 1932, Pinguely started manufacturing steam shovels. Production of steam locomotives was stopped and the company started concentrating instead on mobile cranes and making earthmoving machines instead.
Haulotte
Arthur Hualotte established the beginnings of Haulotte during 1924, when it was referred to as Ateliers de Construction A. Haulotte. This business specialized in manufacturing aerial platforms, mobile cranes and derricks.
Pinguely-Haulotte
Manufacturing it was decided to be sub-contracted to Pinguely-Haulotte, who was to be responsible for the marketing and engineering, design, research and development. All products were abandoned by Saubot so that the business can concentrate on self-propelled aerial work platforms.