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 popular 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 obtained Bil-Jax, who was the US' largest scaffold manufacturer. Currently, Haulotte Group has three factories in France, one plant in Spain, one in Romania, near Pitesti City. There is a new plant which opened in the winter of the year 2008. This factory is only 1 km away from the existing factory near Pitesti City within Arges County. The plant is called Arges II. There are also two plants within the United States, the former Bill-Jax.
Pinguely
Alexandre Pinguely established the Pinguely Company during the year 1881 within Lyon, France. Initially, they built steam locomotives. The business evolved into making equipment eventually. During the year 1892, they provided a locomotive to the Chemin de Fer de St Victor a Thizy.
The company supplied 7 trains to the Voiron-Saint-Beron railway. Pinguely was not considered a main locomotive manufacturer when it comes to numbers produced. The company provided a steam train to the Chemin de Fer du Haut-Rhone in 1930 and by 1932, Pinguely began making steam shovels. Steam locomotive production was stopped and the company began focusing instead on mobile cranes and manufacturing earthmoving equipment instead.
Haulotte
Arthur Hualotte established the beginnings of Haulotte in the year 1924, when it was known as Ateliers de Construction A. Haulotte. This company specialized in the production of 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, design, research and development. All products were abandoned by Saubot so that the company could concentrate on self-propelled aerial work platforms.