TADANO History

Foundation of Dinglerwerke, forerunner of Demag

Christian Dingler starts a manufacturing workshop in Zweibrücken, Germany, the forerunner of Demag.

Foundation of Faun

Justus Christian Braun starts a bronze casting business, the forerunner of Faun.

Steam-powered fire fighting vehicle launched / Faun

World premiere: the first steam-powered fire fighting vehicle leaves the factory

Rail-mounted gantry crane / Demag

First rail-mounted gantry crane with a lifting capacity of 10 tonnes

Masuo Tadano starts a welding company in Hokkaido.

Masuo Tadano, the founder of Tadano, leaves Takamatsu for Asahikawa, Hokkaido, to start a welding business. This day, August 29, 1919, is considered our founding date. At that time, welding technology was rapidly gaining importance and developing outside of Japan, while its introduction in Japan was just beginning. Fascinated by the sparks of welding, Masuo Tadano was convinced that this technology would make a positive contribution to society and took the plunge to establish a company in Hokkaido. (Second from the left: Masuo Tadano.)

BEL 5, 'B' carrier introduced / Faun

Introduction of the BEL 5 truck crane on the so-called 'B' type carrier

Tadano completes first series production machine for the cylinder saw machine for barrel production.

Foundation of Valla

The company Valla was founded in Italy. Its field of activity is the import of construction machinery for reconstruction.

Tadano Iron Works Co., Ltd. established in Takamatsu, Japan

Tadano Iron Works Co., Ltd. was founded in Takamatsu, Japan, by Masuo Tadano, who served as the company's first president.

Tadano invents railroad track maintenance machine, obtains patent and begins its production for delivery to Japan National Railways.

First telescopic mobile crane / Demag

First 2.5-tonne telescopic mobile crane as yard crane, the forefather of all Demag telescopic cranes, with a hydraulic block and tackle for hoist rope instead of winch.

Tadano starts development of hydraulic industrial machines. Completes the first dump truck.

Tadano introduces Japan's first hydraulic truck crane, the OC-2, with a 2-tonne lifting capacity

Since its founding, Tadano Iron Works Co., Ltd. has continuously developed its welding and hydraulic technology, creating a diverse range of unique products. In 1955, the first hydraulic truck crane, the OC-2, was developed based on suggestions from a construction machinery trade journal. The OC-2, initially introduced to the Japanese market, received numerous orders from customers throughout Japan, laying the foundation for our work as a crane manufacturer.

V 120, Krake / Demag

First all terrain crane worldwide, 16 tonne lifting capacity, forefather of all AT cranes

Foundation of Precisione Meccanica S.r.l.

Precisione Meccanica S.r.l. – later Autogrù PM – was founded in 1959 in Modena, Italy. From the beginning, the company was active in the field of truck-mounted hydraulic cranes, involved in both design and manufacturing.

Faun product line continues expansion across industries

Until the end of the 1970s, the company produced crane trucks for almost all major crane manufacturers, trucks and tractors, municipal vehicles, dump trucks, street sweepers and steel/slag transporters for foundries.

Tadano delivers the company's first hydraulic crane outside of Japan (four OC-5 truck cranes) to Indonesia.

Tadano defines Sozo (Creation), Hoshi (Contribution), Kyoryoku (Cooperation) as Corporate Philosophy.

first Pick & Carry crane / Valla

Valla was the first company in the industry to recognize the need for a new crane for material handling. The goal was to develop a new equipment that would bridge the gap between forklift and truck-mounted cranes – thus, the first industrial, self-propelled crane was born.

Tadano constructs the company's new headquaters building in Takamatsu, Japan. Introduces the TM loader cranes series.

Foundation of SpanDeck, the forerunner of Mantis.

SpanDeck is founded as a prestressed concrete equipment manufacturer in US.

TC 120 pioneers tubes as profile / Demag

TC 120: First lattice boom truck crane with tubes as boom profile, lifting capacity of 45 tonnes

Foundation Nagano Industries

Nagano Industries was established in Japan and sold various types of construction machinery since 1968.

Tadano introduces Japan's first hydraulic rough terrain crane, the TR-150, with a 15-tonne lifting capacity.

Tadano introduces the TG truck crane series.

Tadano establishes the company's first overseas subsidiary, Tadano International (Europe) B.V. in the Netherlands.

Foundation of Ishikawajima-Numazu Transport Machinery Co. Ltd., later renamed IHI Transport Machinery Co. Ltd.

The Ishikawajima-Numazu Transport Machinery Co. Ltd., later renamed IHI Transport Machinery Co. Ltd., was founded with capital from the Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. (present-day IHI Corporation, founded in 1853).

SpanDeck develops telescopic crawler cranes with a lifting capacity of 10 and 13 US tons, later under the brand name Mantis.

Tadano constructs and begins production at Shido Plant in Sanuki City, Japan. Introduces the Z loaders crane series.

Tadano itroduces its first aerial work platforms: the AT-136TE and AT-140TE, designed for electrical development applications.

Nagano Industries starts the production of self-propelled mobile elevating work platforms.

Manitex Inc. founded in Georgetown, Texas

Development of all terrain cranes with up to 50 tonne capacity / Faun

CC 12000: 1.000 tonne lattice boom crane, largest mobile CC at this time / Demag

The development and introduction of a multi-section clevis and eye connection makes it possible to use smaller clevises and lighter pins at the connection points

Changes Corporate name to Tadano Ltd.

PM entered its 30th year of activity with a significant presence in the market and a company profile that can be summarized by the following figures: 140 employees, 42,000 square meters total surface area, including 15,000 square meters of factories and offices, and production capacity of 2,000 cranes a year.

Tadano begins Moai Statue Restoration Project at Ahu Tongariki on Easter Islands (Tadano's part in the project is completed in August 1993).

“If we had a crane, we could put the Moai statues back upright.” These words sparked the Moai Restoration Project, which, since its inception in 1991, has re-erected 15 Moai statues toppled by tsunamis and tribal conflicts, in collaboration with the Chilean government, the navy, archaeologists, and the islanders.

Tadano introduces the AR all terrain crane series.

Tadano establishes Tadano America Corporation in Texas, USA.

foundation of Oil&Steel S.p.A.

From the very beginning, the company demonstrated outstanding quality and innovation, which enabled it to rise to the top of the industry in Italy and especially in Europe within just a few years.

Tadano introduces the CREVO rough terrain crane series.

By closely observing market trends, Oil&Steel was the first company to launch a range of tracked aerial work platforms with hydraulic lowering outriggers – the “Octopus” series.

Durch die genaue Beobachtung der Marktentwicklung brachte Oil&Steel als erstes Unternehmen eine Reihe von Kettenarbeitsbühnen mit hydraulischen Absenkstützen auf den Markt – die „Octopus“-Baureihe.

Tadano introduces the AR-5500M, the most powerful all terrain crane ever manufactured in Japan, with a lifting capacity of 550 tonnes.

Tadano introduces the ATF All Terrain Crane Global Series (ATF 110G-5, ATF 160G-5), a collaborative project between Tadano and Faun.

Tadano Sets ‘Lifting Equipment’ as our business domain and the target to Become No.1 Worldwide in the Lifting Equipment Industry

Since celebrating our 60th anniversary we have focused on lifting equipment and strived for global market leadership in this field. In light of the complex, rapid, and profound changes of our time, we remain committed to the highest quality – pursuing further excellence for the world and the future.

Demag introduces one of the world’s largest lattice boom crawler cranes, the CC 88.3200-1 TWIN, with a 3,200-tonne lifting capacity.

Tadano introduces the GR-1600XL (GR-1450EX), a rough terrain crane that boasts the highest lifting capacity in its class worldwide.

Tadano acquires a strategic minority stake in Manitex International, Inc.

Tadano builds the factory in Kozai in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan, and begins production there.

Celebration of Tadano's 100th anniversary

Tadano launches the electro-hydraulic system "e-Pack" for rough terrain cranes on the Japanese market.

Tadano introduces the EVOLT eGR-250N for the Japanese market, the world's first electric rough terrain crane

The machine is an emission-free version of a rough terrain crane with a lifting capacity of 25 tonnes. Japan has the largest number of rough terrain cranes in this class due to their high versatility.

Tadano introduces the EVOLT eGR-1000XLL-1 for the US and Canadian markets.