Donaldson is 100
2nd Quarter 2015
News & events
Donaldson Filtration Systems is celebrating 100 years in business this year. The company started out in 1915 as a three-man shop when Frank Donaldson senior designed and manufactured simple air cleaners for farm tractors. His innovation, combined with success in the agricultural equipment market, led directly to opportunities in the construction and mining industries, and later to the over-the-road truck market.
Donaldson also has a rich history of innovative technologies.
Donaldson South Africa, a subsidiary of Donaldson Company Incorporated (DCI), listed on the NYSE, was established in 1965. The first premises, which comprised a sales office and warehouse facility, measured a mere 25 m².
It was first known as Donaldson Air Cleaners and in 1973 changed its name to Donaldson Filtration Systems (Pty) Ltd. In 1973, a manufacturing site was established in Epping, Cape Town. Frank Donaldson Junior officially opened the facility on the 5 December 1979 and it is known as Frank Donaldson House.
In 1996, an additional manufacturing plant was established in Alrode and in 2006 Donaldson moved into a custom-built facility in Longmeadow Business Park, Johannesburg. This facility includes a sales office and a large distribution centre measuring 9000 m². Today Donaldson Filtration Systems employs over 400 people.
Johannesburg is the springboard into sub-Saharan Africa and with various acquisitions and the globalisation of the South African economy, the profile of Donaldson’s business and markets has changed significantly. The biggest shift has been from a predominantly OEM focus to an aftermarket focus in its engine filtration business. The other significant change has been the addition of IAF divisions and the growth of its industrial business units. Donaldson has an extensive distribution network in both South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The company has 30 distributors in South Africa and 24 in sub-Saharan Africa.
For more information contact Taryn Ternent, Donaldson Filtration Solutions, +27 (0)11 997 6078, [email protected], www.donaldson.co.za
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