DONALDSON Co INC

Started as Donaldson Engineering, a small business built around Frank Donaldson's air intake filter invention (engine air cleaner). Frank Donaldson invented the air intake filter while repairing a tractor in Utah. The business was incorporated in 1915 by Donaldson, his parents and his siblings as Donaldson Company Inc.

In its first decade, Donaldson Company made two important moves; it acquired the Wilcox-Bennet air filter license and introduced the Simplex, a filter that also prevents engine damage. Deere & Company was the company's most important client during the first couple decades. The early 1930s brought additional prosperity when William Lowther joined the company and designed the NS Filter, a tractor performance enhancing filter invented by Frank Donaldson. The 1930’s were a transitional period, beginning with tough economic conditions in the United States which caused business from farmers to fall and subsequently forcing the company to contract in size. This was later followed by the sale of patents to influential investors provided the company with funds and market exposure needed to survive and grow (part of the agreement was that Donaldson Company produce the filters). World War II provided opportunities for the company to expand into aerospace and military hydraulic equipment and device filters. The 1950s were bittersweet. While the company gained market share, grew in size and went public in 1955, it was beset by employee strikes, the exodus of key employees (who started a new company to compete with Donaldson for market share) and IRS charges of hidden back taxes.

In the 1960s subsidiaries were established in Germany, South Africa, Britain, France, Australia and Benelux.

Key dates and events

1915 - Frank Donaldson and his father, W.H.L. Donaldson, found Donaldson Engineering Company to market an air filter that the son has designed

1918 - The business is incorporated as Donaldson Company, Inc

1938 - First production facility abroad (Canada)

1942 - Frank Donaldson died, with his eldest son Frank jr. age 22.

1951 - Frank Donaldson Jr. became president of Donaldson Company

1960 - International expansion

1973 - Acquired Torit Corp. and Majac Inc. (both involved in air dust filtration)

1975 - New hydraulic fluid filtration system created

1984 - Forced to enter new markets (through acquisitions) and restructure due to recessionary effects on major customers like John Deere Tractor Company

1996 - Acquired French muffler maker Tecnov

1997 - Launched Donaldson Korea Company

1999 - Began producing in China (computer disk drive) and purchased AirMaze Corp for $31.9 million

2000 - Acquired England-based company DCE dust control for $56.4 million

2002 - Acquired industrial parts maker Ultrafilter International AG for $68 million. Ultrafilter had sales of $100 million and operated in 30 countries.

2007 - Purchased outright Aerospace Filtration Systems a company that had 18 million in sales the year before. Made a distribution agreement with Kaman Industrial Technologies.

2004 - Opened a new facility in Czech Republic, Klasterec nad Ohri

2015 - Opened new, state-of-the-art facilities in Skarbimierz, Poland and Bogota and Cartagena Colombia