Gradall marks 80 years of excavator manufacturing in Ohio

Gradall Industries Inc. has received congratulations and a number of official proclamations from local, state and federal officials marking the company’s 80th year of manufacturing hydraulic excavators in Ohio.

First introduced in 1947 in Cleveland by the Warner & Swasey Co., Gradall excavator manufacturing was moved to New Philadelphia in 1950 when production outgrew the Cleveland facility. Since then, all manufacturing, engineering, sales, parts and product support have been located in New Philadelphia, where versatile Gradall excavators have undergone continual refinement.

When other excavators were using cables for boom movements, Gradall was the first to use hydraulic power and, since then, every Gradall ever produced has come out of the New Philadelphia facility, which now employs about 400 people and has become a leading corporate citizen in Tuscarawas County. Today, Gradall is the only excavator produced solely in the United States.

Scott Robinson, president of the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce, presented a collection of 80th anniversary proclamations to Mike Popovich, president of Gradall Industries. Proclamations were from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli, state Rep. Jodi Salvo, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose. Earlier, proclamations were issued by Tuscarawas County commissioners and New Philadelphia Mayor Joel Day.

“This is a tribute to the scores of people who have worked at Gradall over the years — many of them second- and third-generation members of their families, who were proud to produce our machines and support their families while doing it,” Popovich said.

“Gradall has been a wonderful corporate citizen in Tuscarawas County, supporting good causes year after year, and we’re more than pleased to salute the company during its 80th year as we look forward to many, many more,” Robinson said.

In addition to excavators, over the years the Gradall plant has produced Gradall telescopic boom telehandlers, vertical mast hoist machines, specialized Gradall models for mines, railroads and steel and aluminum mills and, more recently, Vacall vacuum and jetting machines.

Today, Gradall is wholly owned by the Alamo Group of Seguin, Texas.