Our History

75 Years in the Making

For more than 75 years, we have been innovating products that not only enable people to perform their jobs more efficiently and effectively, but also enable businesses to increase profitability.

Timeline

1946

Henderson Manufacturing is founded

Old Henderson truck
Ollie Henderson founds Henderson Manufacturing in Cedar Rapids, IA to manufacture agricultural attachments and spreading equipment.
1948

Fisher Engineering Founded

Fisher plow in front of the original Fisher location

Dean L. Fisher founds Fisher Engineering to manufacture snowplows designed for Willys jeep vehicles, the iconic pre-cursors to the Jeep brand.

1950

Douglas Seaman purchases Western Welding & Manufacturing

Old photo of Douglas Motor Corp

Douglas Seaman purchases Western Welding and Manufacturing in 1950 and officially changes the name to Western Products. At the time, the primary business was small, one-off welding jobs for large manufacturers.

1952

Western Products begins manufacturing snowplows

Old Western plow

As a way to diversify his business, Douglas Seaman begins manufacturing snowplows for light trucks.

1957

Dejana Truck & Utility Equipment is founded

Flying Service

Pete Dejana opens a three-bay service station in Huntington, Long Island and Dejana Truck & Utility Equipment was born.

1961

Population shifts to the suburbs

An aerial view of snowy streets

As the demand for suburban areas, light trucks, and snowplows continued to grow through the 1960s, Western Products’ sales doubled between 1961 and 1968.

1977

Douglas Seaman creates Douglas Dynamics

Douglas Seaman creates Douglas Dynamics

The 1970s brought significant market share growth, and in 1977 Douglas Seaman creates Douglas Dynamics, which became the parent company for Western Products.

1984

Fisher Engineering joins Douglas Dynamics

Man standing in manufacturing facility

Dean Fisher sells Fisher Engineering to Douglas Dynamics, uniting the two premier brands in the snow and ice control industry.

1991

Armco acquires Douglas Dynamics

Armco logo

Armco Inc. buys Douglas Dynamics, Inc., now the nation’s largest manufacturer of snowplows for four-wheel-drive pickup trucks and utility vehicles.

1997

TrynEx International is founded

A truck with a Snowex spreader

TrynEx International is established with the SnowEx® and SweepEx® brands, eventually adding the TurfEx® brand in 2009.

1999

AK Steel Corporation merges with Armco

AK Steel logo

AK Steel acquires Armco, making it one of the largest steelmakers in the United States at the time.

2004

Aurora and Ares purchases Douglas Dynamics from AK Steel

Aurora Capital Partner and Ares logo

In April 2004, private equity firms Aurora Capital Group and Ares Private Equity Group acquire Douglas Dynamics from AK Steel.

2005

Douglas Dynamics acquires the Blizzard Corporation

Plow at ski resort

Seeing an opportunity to be part of an important advancement in the snowplow industry, Douglas Dynamics acquires the Blizzard Corporation, gaining access to industry-changing patents, including the revolutionary “adjustable-wing snowplow.”

2010

Douglas Dynamics completes IPO

Group of people at the stock market

Douglas Dynamics completes an initial public offering (IPO) in May 2010 and today trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PLOW” (NYSE:PLOW).

2013

Douglas Dynamics acquires TrynEx International

SnowEx spreader on a truck

Douglas Dynamics acquires TrynEx International, adding a comprehensive line of highly regarded ice control equipment under the SnowEx brand, as well as turf application equipment (TurfEx) and industrial attachment products (SweepEx).

2014

Douglas Dynamics expands into municipal snow & ice control market

Fleet of Henderson snowplows

Douglas Dynamics diversifies its offering and expands into the municipal snow and ice control market with the acquisition of Henderson Products.

2016

Douglas Dynamics acquires Dejana Truck & Utility Equipment

Dejana truck

Douglas Dynamics purchases Dejana Truck and Utility Equipment as part of the strategy to diversify its business outside of snow and ice control.

2022

Today

Fisher plow on a truck

Douglas Dynamics’ products are manufactured across the Midwest and Eastern seaboard and sold throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. The company employs approximately 1,800 people across 21 different locations.