In 2005, the corporation Pinguely-Haulotte was renamed Haulotte Group. This change in name brought the end of the Pinguely name after 124 years! The Haulotte Group is known for making articulated work platforms, telescopic work platforms, trailer mounted work platforms, vertical mast-work platforms and scissor lifts.
On the 24th of July, the year 2008 the Haulotte Group acquired Bil-Jax, who was the US' largest scaffold manufacturer. At present, Haulotte Group has three factories in France, one factory in Spain, one in Romania, near the City of Pitesti. There is a new factory that opened in the winter of 2008. This plant is 1 km away from the existing plant near Pitesti within the County of Arges. The factory is referred to as Arges II. There are also two factories in the USA, the former Bill-Jax.
Pinguely
Alexandre Pinguely established the Pinguely Company in 1881 within Lyon, France. Initially, they constructed steam engines. The company evolved into making equipment eventually. In 1892, they provided a train to the Chemin de Fer de St Victor a Thizy.
Pinguely provided 7 locomotives 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 during 1930 and by 1932, Pinguely began manufacturing steam shovels. Steam locomotive production was stopped and the company started concentrating instead on mobile cranes and making earthmoving machines instead.
Haulotte
During 1924, Haulotte was formed in L'Horme by Arthur Haulotte. The company was referred to as Ateliers de Construction A. Haulotte. This company specialized in manufacturing derricks, aerial platforms and mobile cranes.
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.