Gehl Co. Celebrates Milestone

To thrive in business for 150 years takes product innovation, sound business decisions, strong leadership and first-class customer service. But most of all it takes dedicated employees and dealers. The Gehl Co. history began in 1859 in a blacksmith shop in a small Wisconsin community located at the westerly bend of the Milwaukee River. Since then, it has been led by three generations of Gehl family members and still operates in the same Midwestern town of West Bend where it began 150 years ago.

The company began with the development of agricultural implements for small farms. One of its best sellers was created in 1880, the Hexelbank Ensilage Cutter, a predecessor to the modern forage harvester.

In 1902, John W. Gelh acquired the business, becoming the first Gehl family member to lead the company. A second generation of Gehl brothers took control of the business in the 1930’s. And in the 1940s, they developed several innovative agricultural products including field forage harvesters, self-propelled forage harvesters, multiple-row crop attachments and portable feedmakers.

In 1973, Gehl began manufacturing skid loaders for agricultural customers, necessitating a second manufacturing plant in Madison, S.D. The popularity of these machines grew quickly into the expanding construction markets, as well as the European market. By 1987, the company was manufacturing the Dynalift telescope handler in Yankton, S.D.

A third-generation Gehl, William D. Gehl, began managing the Company in 1992. Under his leadership, the company diversified into multiple markets worldwide, which included the acquisition of Mustang Manufacturing in 1997. It was at this time that Gehl began manufacturing more compact equipment than ever before

Gehl Company’s success after the early 1990s and into the new millenium was attributed to the vision of William Gehl, the hard work of Gehl employees and the dedicated world-wide dealer network.

“Despite changes in technology and an ever-expanding product line, Gehl has remained true to its reputation for ingenuity, innovation and reliability,” said William Gehl, CEO and board chairman.

Today, Gehl Company manufactures and distributes telescopic handlers, skid loaders, track loaders, compact excavators, all-wheel-steer loaders, articulated loaders and asphalt pavers.

Gehl is continually designing and manufacturing state-of-the-art compact equipment with the customer in mind. Gehl recently opened its new research and development center in West Bend, Wis., next to where the business began 150 years ago.

The new research and development center includes the latest technology to develop innovative compact equipment. The center features a certified sound chamber, which allows developmental sound-level testing, as well as certification and audit testing to the various worldwide standards. Other test cells are available to allow 24-hour operation of equipment for performance and durability evaluations.

To commemorate its 150-year milestone, the company published an illustrated hard cover book that details the events of the Company’s evolution.