With more than a century of mining know-how, Joy’s durability, efficiency and advanced automation excel in even the most challenging mining environments.
In the beginning
In 1919, Joseph Joy founded Joy Machine Company in Evansville, Indiana, where the first crawler-mounted loader was manufactured in 1920. Soon, many of these loaders were operating in the major coal regions of West Virginia, Illinois, and Saskatchewan, Canada. As the company rapidly grew more successful, a larger facility was needed. In 1924, the company moved to Franklin, Pennsylvania (where it is still manufacturing its extensive product line of underground mining equipment).
In 1938, the company shipped its very first shuttle car – the Model 2ET-1D – cementing its position as a leader in underground mining equipment. In 1948, the company produced its first continuous miner – Model 3JCM – the beginning of the now extensive product line of continuous miners and entry drivers. And in 1976, the company produced its first longwall shearer.
The combining of two giants
In 1994, Harnischfeger Industries (later known as P&H Mining Equipment) purchased Joy Mining Machinery. The two companies continued to operate independently.
Strategic acquisitions
In the late 1990’s, Joy Mining Machinery began a series of strategic acquisitions, bringing world-class brands into the Joy product family. In 1997, Longwall International (a leading line of longwall equipment) was acquired. In 2006, Stamler, the most popular feeder breaker and battery hauler equipment in the mining industry, was acquired.
In 2008, Continental Global Inc., a worldwide leader in conveyor systems for bulk material handling in mining and other industrial applications, was acquired. At the same time, Goodman-Hewitt - a field-tested conveying equipment product portfolio that includes high quality idlers, pulleys, and other critical conveying equipment built to exacting CEMA requirements - was acquired and the product offerings were merged into the Joy conveying product line.
In 2012, IMM – a group of highly regarded underground mining equipment companies in China – was acquired and their roadheader, controls, and shearer products were brought into the Joy room and pillar and longwall product lines.
The innovation continues
Joy equipment is used in all areas of underground mining, including energy minerals such as coal, industrial minerals such as salt, and hard rock minerals such as copper and iron. Joy equipment is known in the industry as the leading brand of underground mining equipment and is specifically lauded for high reliability and producing the lowest cost per ton.
The Joy-branded product lines feature:
- Room and pillar/entry development equipment, including continuous miners, entry drivers, bolting systems, haulage systems, feeder breakers, and loaders
- Industrial mineral equipment, including continuous miners, haulage systems, and feeder breakers
- Longwall systems, including longwall shearers, powered roof supports, armoured face conveyors, and stageloaders/mobile tail pieces
- Hard rock equipment, including drills, loaders and trucks
- Conveyor equipment, including high angle conveyors, fully engineered conveying systems, conveyor components, and related equipment such as crushers
The Joy brand continues to be the undisputed leader in underground mining equipment, used in virtually every major mine worldwide. The brand’s product line continues to grow and provide solutions to mining’s toughest challenges.