Cat Dealer Ohio Machinery Co. Marks 75th Anniversary in 2020
Ohio Machinery Co., best known as Ohio Cat, celebrates 75 years of equipment sales and service to customers throughout its business territory beginning February 2020. As a privately held, locally owned and operated company, Ohio Machinery Co. gained strength and size over time through its representation of premium products, ongoing dedicated leadership, and a strong commitment to customer service and product support excellence. Ohio Machinery Co. serves its product territories under several brand names, including Ohio Cat, The Cat Rental Store, Ohio Peterbilt, Ohio Ag Equipment, Sitech, Complete Hydraulic Service, International Fuel Systems, and Thomas Built Bus by Ohio Cat.
Founded in February 1945, Ohio Machinery Co. initially operated out of one location in Columbus, Ohio, with 39 employees. The following year, with 109 employees, the headquarters moved to Independence, Ohio, in the Cleveland area. In 1971, because of continued growth and the need for more space, the headquarters moved to its current location in Broadview Heights, Ohio. In 2003, Ohio Machinery Co. acquired Holt Company of Ohio. At that time, the organization operated out of 16 locations with 837 employees covering a territory including Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana. With the Holt acquisition, Ohio Machinery Co. rebranded and commenced doing business as Ohio CAT.
Since that time, the organization has diversified its offerings and has continued to grow. Ohio Machinery Co. acquired International Fuel Systems in 2008, the Ag Division went to market under a new name in 2012, Ohio Ag Equipment, and in 2017 it became the Thomas Built Bus dealership for Southern Ohio. Then, in 2018, Ohio Machinery Co. acquired the Ohio assets and personnel of Allstate Peterbilt making it a dealership for the sales, parts and service of Peterbilt heavy-duty and medium-duty on-highway trucks operating under the name Northern Ohio Peterbilt. At the end of 2019, the company acquired AMG Peterbilt LLC and its Peterbilt territory in Central and Southern Ohio, allowing the company to rebrand under the name Ohio Peterbilt. Ohio Machinery Co. currently operates 36 locations and employs nearly 1,700 employees.
Looking back, 75 years included strong swings in economic conditions and Ohio Machinery Co. weathered many storms. Through good times and bad, the company recognized its people as the foundation for its success. Today, third-generation owner, Ken Taylor, leads the organization with a balance of keen business-sense while being highly engaged with employees, customers, Ohio’s communities and Ohio’s non-profit, charitable organizations.
As the company celebrates its 75th anniversary, festivities will focus on employee and customer appreciation, facility improvements and signage, tooling and technology, philanthropy and charitable service, and reflection on the organization’s legacy. Store locations and company vehicles throughout Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana will display 75th anniversary signage and decals throughout the year.
A leading player in rental, Ohio Cat is No. 20 on the RER 100.
About the Author
Michael Roth
Editor
Michael Roth has covered the equipment rental industry full time for RER since 1989 and has served as the magazine’s editor in chief since 1994. He has nearly 30 years experience as a professional journalist. Roth has visited hundreds of rental centers and industry manufacturers, written hundreds of feature stories for RER and thousands of news stories for the magazine and its electronic newsletter RER Reports. Roth has interviewed leading executives for most of the industry’s largest rental companies and manufacturers as well as hundreds of smaller independent companies. He has visited with and reported on rental companies and manufacturers in Europe, Central America and Asia as well as Mexico, Canada and the United States. Roth was co-founder of RER Reports, the industry’s first weekly newsletter, which began as a fax newsletter in 1996, and later became an online newsletter. Roth has spoken at conventions sponsored by the American Rental Association, Associated Equipment Distributors, California Rental Association and other industry events and has spoken before industry groups in several countries. He lives and works in Los Angeles when he’s not traveling to cover industry events.