Our Company History
Take a journey into Ingersoll Rand history by selecting a year in our timeline:
1800 | 1900 | 1910 | 1920 | 1930 | 1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2008
With a history dating back to 1871, Ingersoll Rand and its family of brands represents a proven history in construction and mining, industrial and commercial markets.
Through acquisitions, innovations and customer focus, today's Ingersoll Rand offers market-leading solutions and services that enable customers to create progress through a variety of industries and markets that touch everyday life.
1800
1871
- Simon Ingersoll’s steam-powered rock drill is patented
- Ingersoll Rock Drill Company is formed
1872
- Rand & Waring Drill & Compressor Company is formed
1879
- Rand & Waring changed to Rand Drill Company
1888
- Ingersoll Rock Drill Company merges with Sergeant Drill Company to form Ingersoll-Sergeant Drill Company
1894
- WR Grace named president of Ingersoll-Sergeant
1896
- J. George Leyner invents the hammer drill
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1900
1902
- Type X portable compressor line is introduced by Rand
1904
- Panama Canal is started using Ingersoll-Sergeant drills
1905
- Merger of Ingersoll-Sergeant Drill Company and Rand Drill Company to form Ingersoll-Rand Company.
1906
- William Saunders becomes first president of Ingersoll-Rand
1907
- Imperial Pneumatic Tool is acquired
1909
- A.S. Cameron Steam Pump Works is acquired
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1910
1912
- Jackhammer drill is invented (Tradename: Jackhammer)
1912
- J.G. Leyner Engineering Works Company is acquired
1913
- William Saunders becomes Ingersoll-Rand’s first Chairman
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1920
1925
- Develops first commercially successful diesel electric locomotive engine; first diesel electric locomotive sold to Central Railroad of New Jersey
1927
- Provides jackhammer drills and air compressors for work on Mount Rushmore
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1930
1934
- First air-powered Impactool introduced
1936
- George Doubleday elected chairman
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1940
1942
- The Company is recognized for its wartime contributions with the coveted Army-Navy “E” Award
1948
- The Quarrymaster is introduced; known as the first modern self-contained, mobile, air-powered rock drill for large-diameter blast holes
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1950
1954
- World’s first atomic-powered submarine is equipped with Ingersoll-Rand boiler-feed pumps and compressors
1955
- Downhole drill is introduced
1955
- Daniel C. Keefe elected chairman of the board
1959
- Robert Johnson elected chairman
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1960
1967
- William L. Wearly elected chairman
1968
- The Torrington Company manufacturer of bearings and motion control products, is acquired
1968
- Centac air compressor is introduced
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1970
1972
- Company executive offices move from NYC to Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey
1974
- Acquires Schlage Lock Company
1977
- Builds the world’s fastest rescue drill for the South African Chamber of Mines
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1980
1980
- Thomas A. Holmes elected chairman
1982
- High speed centrifugal pump introduced
1986
- Ingersoll-Rand and Dresser Industries from Dresser-Rand
1987
- The Company re-enters China through joint venture with Xuanhua Pneumatic Machinery Limited
1988
- Theodore H. Black becomes Chairman
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1990
- The ARO Corporation is acquired
1993
- James E. Perrella elected Chairman
1995
- Acquires Clark Equipment Company, including Bobcat, Club Car and Blaw-Knox
1996
- Steelcraft, manufacturer of steel doors and frames, is acquired
1996
- Zimmerman International Corporation, manufacturer of ergonomic material handling systems, is acquired
1997
- Acquires Newman Tonks, European producer of architectural hardware
1997
- Thermo King, manufacturer of transport refrigeration equipment, is acquired
1999
- Harrow Industries, is acquired, including Locknetics (electronic security products). Recognition Systems (biometric security). Ives and Broadway (architectural hardware and bath fixtures.)
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2000
- Herbert L. Henkel elected chairman
- Acquires 100% ownership of Dresser-Rand
- Hussmann, manufacturer of stationary refrigeration equipment, is acquired
- Acquires Interflex, provider of time and attendance, scheduling and security systems
- Superstav, Czech Republic-based manufacturer of compact equipment, is acquired
2001
- Kryptonite Corporation manufacturing of portable security products, is acquired
2003
- Completes sale of Torrington
2004
- Completes sale of Drilling Solutions and Dresser-Rand
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2005
- Acquires CISA, ITO and SuperRay
- Acquires majority interest in Shenzhen Bocom System Engineering Co. Ltd., a China-based provider of Integrated Security Technologies and Services
- Acquires Dolphin Electromagnetic Technologies, an India-based Provider of Integrated Security Technologies and Services
- Acquires Astrum GmbH, a Leading Developer of Personnel Scheduling and Management Software and Services
- Acquires United States Distribution Rights for Tramac Branded Hydraulic Breakers
- Establishes a Joint Venture for the Manufacture and Distribution of Door Locks with Taiwan Fu Hsing Industrial Co.
2006
- Celebrates 100 Years of Trading on the New York Stock Exchange
- Acquires Geith International, an Ireland-based Equipment Attachments Manufacturer
- Acquires the Global Low-Pressure Air Business of BOC Edwards
- Acquires ZEKS Compressed Air Solutions, a Leading North American Provider of Compressed Air Treatment Technologies
2007
- Acquires Remaining Interest of Instrum Rand
- Sells its Road Development Business Unit for $1.3 Billion to AB Volvo
- Signs an agreement to purchase privately owned Officine Meccaniche Industriali srl (OMI), a leading European provider of compressed-air treatment equipment
- Sells its Bobcat, Utility Equipment and Attachments Business Units for $4.9 Billion to Doosan Infracore
- Announces definitive agreement to acquire Trane Inc. (formerly American Standard Companies) in a transaction valued at approximately $10.1 billion
2008
- Completes acquisition of Trane Inc., a global leader in indoor climate control systems, services and solutions in a transaction valued at approximately $10.1 billion
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