The corporation Pinguely-Haulotte was recently named the Haulotte Group in 2005. The change in name was the first time within 124 years the name has not included Pinguely. The Haulotte Group is known for manufacturing telescopic work platforms, articulated work platforms, scissor lifts, trailer mounted work platforms and vertical mast-work platforms.
On the 24th of July, 2008 the Haulotte Group acquired Bil-Jax, who was the US' biggest scaffold manufacturer. At present, Haulotte Group has three factories in France, one plant in Spain, one factory 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 factory near the city of Pitesti in the County of Arges. The factory is known as Arges II. There are also two factories within the USA, the former Bill-Jax.
Pinguely
The company was formed in 1881 within Lyon, France by Alexandre Pinguely. The company first build steam locomotives. The company evolved into making machinery eventually. In 1892, they provided a locomotive to the Chemin de Fer de St Victor a Thizy.
Pinguely supplied 7 steam engines to the Voiron-Saint-Beron railway. In terms of numbers produced, Pinguely was not a major locomotive manufacturer. The company supplied a steam locomotive to the Chemin de Fer du Haut-Rhone in the year 1930 and by 1932, Pinguely started manufacturing steam shovels. Steam locomotive production was stopped and the company began focusing instead on mobile cranes and manufacturing earthmoving machinery instead.
Haulotte
Arthur Hualotte formed the beginnings of Haulotte during 1924, when it was called Ateliers de Construction A. Haulotte. This company specialized in manufacturing mobile cranes, derricks and aerial platforms.
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 concentrate on self-propelled aerial work platforms.