GREAT LAKES POWER COMPANIES
CHRONOLOGY OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
1973
• Started March 15th – Hopkins Road, Mentor, Ohio.
• Signed long-term Requirements Contract with George Engine Co.
1974
• Purchased McCash Transmission Services, Cincinnati, Ohio.
1975
• Opened Detroit Branch.
• Purchased Tyler Boulevard facility.
• Stockholders purchased outstanding shares owned by George Engine Co.
1978
• Opened Pittsburgh Branch.
• Started Great Lakes Power R&D.
1979
• Started Great Lakes Machine & Mfg.
• Negotiated Long-term Requirements Contract with Cummins Engine Co.
1980
• Started First Power-Cincinnati-John Deere Engine Dealership.
• Tyler Boulevard building destroyed by fire – May 17.
1981
• New Cincinnati Facility opened April 1st.
• New Tyler facility opened April 15.
• Closed First Power.
1982
• Purchased Paragon Gear Division of Twin Disc-February-Started Paragon Power.
• Added 30,000 sq. ft. to Tyler facility, Sept – October.
• Obtained a U.S. Coast Guard Contract to rebuild transmissions installed in vessels from 30’ to 110’.
1983
• Purchased West Virginia Engine & Transmission and opened Nitro, West Virginia facility.
1984
• Purchased assets of Hyster Lift Truck dealership in Detroit-February
• Great Lakes Power Lift Company formed.
• Purchased assets of Hyster dealerships in Erie, Niles, and Canton owned by the Morrison Company - October. Opened branch locations in Cleveland (Brookpark), Erie and Canton - Great Lakes Power Lift Ohio formed.
1985
• Purchased Twin Disc assets of Cummins Cumberland and opened Evansville branch.
• Built a new 25,000 sq. ft. facility in Detroit.
1986
• Converted Great Lakes Power Products to a Sub-Chapter “S” Corp.
1987
• Started U.S. Power.
• Acquired MQN Electric.
• Started Great Lakes Power Service Co.
1988
• Closed Nitro West Virginia branch.
• Sold Paragon Power Max Product Line and (certain test equipment) to Twin Disc.
• Sold assets involved with Hyster Franchise at Brookpark and Erie, Pennsylvania locations. Retained Straddle Carriers.
1989
• Purchased Torque Converter reblading business from Bowers Machine and signed Requirements Contract.
1992
• Purchased the design and manufacturing rights for the Twin Disc J6500 and J10000 Universal Joints – January.
1993
• Acquired the assets of Prodco Service Equipment Co. obtaining Atlas Copco, IDP Pump & Schrader-Bellows lines.
• Successfully completed electric lift truck performance tests at GM’s Saginaw Foundry Operations leading to Hyster’s selection as GM’s supplier.
1994
• Opened an office in Brunswick, Ohio.
• Announced the “Spirit of America” initiative.
• Construction of the State of the Art endurance racer utilizing standard industry produced parts.
• Youth Education Program for water and boating safety.
1995
• Hyster Lift truck division expanded with two new branches: Saginaw, Michigan in January and Livonia, Michigan in July.
• The “Spirit of America” Foundation was incorporated in the spring of 1995
• Miami International Boat Show with Bobby Unser – February – introduced 46’ Cougar raceboat.
• Spirit of America set record racing from Toledo to Buffalo.
• Conducted our first Spirit of America Youth Education Classes – June.
• The Straddle Carrier division relocated to Liberty Park in Mentor, Ohio, late summer.
• Obtained Contract from Naval Air Warfare Center to rebuild six Trident Missile Carriers. Trident was considered the United States key arsenal in ending the cold war with Russia.
1998
• Spirit of America set 2 world records – Tampa to Miami and Miami-Nassau-Miami in May and June. Won 2 World APBA records.
1999
• Sold the Stationary Air Compressor business to Air Technology-Columbus, Ohio.
• Closed the Brunswick, Ohio facility.
• Started Power Rents Division and formed alliance with Omniquip Corp.
• Company was certified to QS9000 quality level.
2000
• Sold the assets of MQN Electrical Division to Meier Transmission
• Sold the assets of Fluid Power Division to B.W. Rogers.
• Acquired the Twin Disc portion of the W.A. Kraft Co. business in New England and Georgia – November. Georgia assets subsequently sold to Twin Disc in Feb. 2001.
2001
• Entered into an aircraft lease agreement with 5460 in March.
• Acquired Ramco Universal – a business providing mobile equipment replacement parts for Ford and also a franchised Motorcraft Dealer for Ford parts.
2002
• Negotiated differential rebuild contract with Euclid Hitachi.
• Consolidated Liberty operation with 7455 Tyler Blvd in December.
2003
• Sold Motorcraft franchise in to Rowerdink Company.
• Inaugural event for Great Lakes Power’s first 25 year club.
• Started an expedition to climb “Mount Quipware”.
• Closed Power Rents Division.
2004
• Shareholders approve to expand Board of Directors to include two outside directors.
• Dennis Eckart and Brent Grover accept nomination as new outside Board menbers.
2005
• Mentor service branch moves to 50,000 square foot facility in Perry, Ohio.
• North Atlantic Power Products moves from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to new
25,000 square foot facility in Exeter, New Hampshire.
• Great Lakes Power Products represents Shuttlelift, Gear Products and Interlube as new distribution partners.
2006
• Great Lakes Power represents Dynamic Handling/Fantuzzi as new distribution partners.
