The P&H, Joy and Montabert brands have a long and illustrious history in the mining industry. We pay homage to the generations of men and women who helped build these great brands and innovate mining. We know that our history is the foundation of our future.
1880s
In 1884, Alonzo Pawling and Henry Harnischfeger found Pawling & Harnischfeger (P&H) Machine and Pattern Shop in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
1890s
In 1891, Thomas Robins founded Hewitt-Robins, developing the first practical conveyor system for moving heavy and abrasive materials utilizing steel, in line idlers and rubber covered belting.
In 1895, when a recession cooled the demand for overhead cranes, Pawling & Harnischfeger begins to develop a product line that includes earth-moving machines.
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1910s
In 1910, Pawling & Harnischfeger developed a line of earth-moving machines for construction and mining operations.
In 1914, the Harnischfeger Corporation is founded.
In 1919, Joseph Joy founds Joy Machine Company in Evansville, Indiana, U.S., and receives a patent for a mechanical loader.
1920s
In 1920, P&H launched the Model 206 excavator, the first in a long line of best-selling shovels for surface mining.
In 1920, Joy debuted the first mechanical loader (model 4BU).
In 1921, Joannes Montabert founded Montabert S.A. in Lyon, France, as a manufacturer of pneumatic equipment.
1930s
In 1930, P&H is one of the first manufacturers to apply all-welded design and fabrication to its equipment.
In 1934, the Harnischfeger Fund is started with $50,000 from the estate of Henry Harnischfeger to support civic and cultural groups in Milwaukee.
In 1935, Suzanne Montabert led an expansion of the Montabert product line and adds the Joy-Sullivan line of products.
In 1938, Joy shipped its first shuttle car (model 2ET-1D).
1940s
In 1942, P&H increased production of shovels, cranes and hoists to support the World War II war effort.
In 1946, Joy merged with Sullivan Machinery Company and LeDel Conveyor and Manufacturing Company. Two years later in 1948, Joy produced its first continuous miner (model 3JCM) and revealed the high-seam shuttle car (model 10SC).
In 1948, Stamler is founded and supplies feeders and feeder-breakers around the world.
In 1949, Roger Montabert, managing director of Montabert, initiates new product engineering through the creation of a Research and Development Department.
1950s
In 1952, Komatsu began production of motor graders.
In 1954, P&H rolled out the Model 1800 electrical mining shovel; mines refer to this model as the "Pride of the Pit."
Joy shipped its first 10SC shuttle car in 1952, built the first 1CM continuous miner in 1953 and produced the first 18SC shuttle car in 1958.
In 1959, Continental Conveyor & Equipment Co. is formed in Winfield, Alabama, by former employees of Continental Gin Co.
1960s
In 1965, Komatsu began production of wheel loaders.
In 1968, P&H launched the 2800 Mark I class shovel, featuring a new Electrotorque drive system, designed to meet the world's growing demand for coal, iron and copper.
In 1968, Komatsu began production of hydraulic excavators.
In 1969, Joy introduced the low-seam shuttle car (model 21SC).
During the 1960s, Montabert made a number of expansions in its business and mining solution offerings:
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Created Export Department and Montabert subsidiaries in Europe in 1961.
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Introduced the first parallel boom assembly for underground drilling, known as the "burn cut" method in 1963.
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Pioneered the first-ever hand-held jackhammer powered by hydraulics in 1965. The transition from pneumatic to hydraulics led to more advancements in the hydraulics industry.
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Introduced the first hydraulic rock breaker, BR500, that could be attached to an excavator, beginning a successful hydraulic rock breaker product line. The hydraulic rock breaker came available worldwide.
1970s
In 1971, Joy shipped its 10,000th shuttle car to a customer.
In the 1970s, Joy and Montabert introduced a number of significant underground and hard rock mining solutions, including
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The world's first hydraulic out-of-the-hold drifter in 1970 (Montabert)
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High-seam (12CM series) and low-seam (14CM series) continuous miners in 1972 (Joy)
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Longwall shearer (model 1LS) in 1976 (Joy)
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Flexible conveyor train (model 1FCT-3BH) in 1976 (Joy)
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The first complete longwall system designed in the United States in 1978 (Joy)
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Custom tunneling solution, using multiple booms on multiple drilling rigs, which allows simultaneous rock breaking in a semi-circular pattern, in 1978 (Montabert)
1980s
In 1984, Goodman Conveyor Co. is formed.
In 1986, Joy created a low-seam shearer (model 4LS).
In 1987, Montabert introduced its first variable breaker. The full variable breaker product line now includes eight models, which are the only 15-speed breakers in the world.
In 1988, P&H acquired the Page Engineering walking dragline product line.
1990s
In 1994, Joy shipped its 5,000 10SC shuttle car.
During the 1990s, a number of acquisitions finished, enriching the mining solutions available from P&H and Joy:
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P&H acquired the Gardner-Denver line of production drilling rigs in 1991
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Harnischfeger Industries purchased Joy Mining Machinery in 1994
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Joy purchased Longwall International in 1997
The P&H, Joy and Montabert brands also introduced a range of mining solutions during the 1990s:
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High-seam shearer (model 6LS) in 1990 (Joy)
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4100C electric mining shovel in 1991 (P&H)
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9020 walking dragline in Australia and 120A blasthole drill, which becomes the preferred blasthole production rig for iron mining, in 1996 (P&H)
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First VFD shearer (model 7LS) in 1997 (Joy)
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BRV 65 model in 1999 (Montabert)
2000s
In 2000, Joy Mining Machinery shipped its 5,000th continuous miner.
In the 2000s, the P&H, Joy and Montabert brands introduced many significant equipment and solutions to the mining industry:
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Mid-seam high-voltage continuous miner (model 14CM27) and two other machines in 2000 (Joy)
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Thinnest VFD shearer (model 7LS1A) in 2001 (Joy)
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4100C Boss electric rope shovel, specifically for the growing oil sands industry in 2001 (P&H)
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High production flexible conveyor train (model 4FCT) in 2002 (Joy)
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Centurion Electrical Control system for electric rope shovels in 2004 (P&H)
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OptiDrive for in-use shearers, continuous miners and flexible conveyor trains and machine-to-surface communications for room and pillar operations in 2004 (Joy)
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SC range of light breakers for compact carriers in 2004 (Montabert)
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Wethead system for continuous miner cutterheads in 2005 (Joy)
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Faceboss control system in 2006 (Joy)
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320XPC Centurion-class heavy-duty drilling rig in 2006 (P&H)
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4170C mobile mining crusher in 2008 (Joy)
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Blue Line/N-Series, a value-based rock breaker line for lighter duty applications in 2009 (Montabert)
In addition to expanding its solutions, Joy Mining also purchased the Stamler Group in 2006 and opened its first Smart Services center in South Africa to serve customers.
In 2008, Joy Mining Machinery purchased Continental Conveyor, Hewitt-Robins and Goodman Conveyor.
In 2009, Hewitt-Robins and Goodman Conveyor merge to form Goodman-Hewitt.
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2010s
In 2010, P&H Mining Equipment launched the PreVail machine health monitoring system.
Joy Mining Machinery purchased a number of companies in the 2010s including:
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LeTourneau Technologies in 2011
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IMM in 2011 (in China)
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MGI in 2014 (in Canada) and
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Montabert in 2015 (in France).
In 2012, P&H Mining Equipment and Joy Mining Machinery become Joy Global.
In 2017, Komatsu America Corp., a subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd., completes its acquisition of Joy Global Inc., adding the P&H, Joy and Montabert solutions to Komatsu's offerings.
In 2019, we're celebrating 100 years of the Joy brand and innovation in underground mining. In 1919, Joseph Joy revolutionized the industry with his mechanized mining machine. We remain committed to providing the reliability we are known for while finding new ways to help our customers move forward.
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