Gradall Industries manufactured its 20,000th excavator and celebrated it last week at its headquarters including employees, retirees, community leaders, local, state and federal officials. The 20,000th machine was a Discovery Series D154 model, specially wrapped in red, white and blue to signify Gradall’s association with the “I Make America” campaign organized by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers.
The Discovery Series was introduced by Gradall in February 2015, a multi-purpose machine for ditching, grading and street repair.
“Today is an important day as we look back on the history of Gradall and look forward to the next 20,000 machines manufactured here,” said Mike Haberman, president of Gradall Industries. Haberman added that three components will allow that continued growth to happen: energy independence, a focus on education and regulatory and tax reform.
The 20,000th machine was sold to GS Equipment, a Gradall distributor in Florida, owned by the Ferwerda family, descendants of Ray and Koop Ferwerda, inventors of the first Gradall prototypes in 1944.
