During 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 making telescopic work platforms, articulated work platforms, trailer mounted work platforms, vertical mast-work platforms and scissor lifts.
On July 24th, 2008 the Haulotte Group acquired Bil-Jax, who was the US' largest scaffold manufacturer. Currently, Haulotte Group has one plant in Spain, three plants in France, one plant in Romania, near the City of Pitesti. There is a new factory which opened in the winter of 2008. This plant is just 1 km away from the existing factory near the city of Pitesti in Arges County. The plant is called Arges II. There are also two factories in the USA, the former Bill-Jax.
Pinguely
Alexandre Pinguely formed the Pinguely Company during 1881 in Lyon, France. Initially, they built steam locomotives. The company evolved into making machinery eventually. During 1892, they provided a locomotive to the Chemin de Fer de St Victor a Thizy.
The company supplied 7 locomotives to the Voiron-Saint-Beron railway. Pinguely was not considered a major locomotive manufacturer when it comes to numbers produced. The company supplied a steam locomotive to the Chemin de Fer du Haut-Rhone during the year 1930 and by 1932, Pinguely started manufacturing steam shovels. Production of steam locomotives was stopped and the company began focusing instead on mobile cranes and making earthmoving equipment instead.
Haulotte
In 1924, Haulotte was established in L'Horme by Arthur Haulotte. The company was referred to as 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 can concentrate on self-propelled aerial work platforms.