| 1943 |
Duo Lift was founded in 1943 by Arthur
Hellbusch when he began manufacturing a wagon lift in the family's milk
barn. He designed a mechanism to slide between the wagon box and running
gear, which, through a series of pulleys and cable, lifted the wagon box and
allowed grain to be emptied out the back. |
| 1950's |
In the early 1950's, Art Hellbusch began to
irrigate his farm by using irrigation pipe. He designed and manufactured a
trailer to transport the irrigation pipe to and from the field as well as
store the pipe during the winter. This idea became very popular and this
product is still made today. |
| 1969 |
Jim Hellbusch, Art's son, joined the family
business and began designing and manufacturing trailers for all types of
machinery, irrigation engines, automobiles, and snowmobiles. |
| 1970's |
The company increased the volume of pipe
trailers sold across the United States, as well as several foreign
countries. The custom-built trailer line also expanded. |
| 1981 |
Art Hellbusch retired and Jim became President
of Duo Lift. Jim's wife, Connie, also joined the company.
Duo Lift designed and manufactured its first running gear for the
fertilizer industry. With the addition of distributor's, this product line
expanded rapidly throughout the 1980's with running gears and trailers built
for anhydrous ammonia tanks, liquid fertilizer tanks, and dry fertilizer
tenders and spreaders. |
| 1988 |
Duo Lift's first major plant expansion took
place to accommodate additional sales. |
| 1990 |
Jim Hellbusch elected to the FEMA (Farm
Equipment Manufacturers Association) Board of Directors. FEMA is a national
organization for manufacturer's of short line farm equipment. |
| 1994 |
Duo Lift was selected as Business of the Year
by Columbus Telegram newspaper. |
| 1994 |
A second manufacturing plant expansion took
place, as the irrigation, custom, and fertilizer trailer lines all remain
strong entities for Duo Lift. |
| 1995 |
Duo Lift purchased the Evans-Plugge Company,
known as E-P Trailers, a long-time manufacturer of commercial and industrial
trailers. This enabled Duo Lift to offer a wider variety of trailers for
industrial, construction, and specialized applications.
A third manufacturing plant expansion took place to accommodate the
additional E-P Trailer sales, and now Duo Lift has over 40,000 square feet
of manufacturing space. |
| 1998 |
Jim and Connie Hellbusch selected as the
Agribusiness Pioneers of the Year by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. |
| 1999 |
Jim Hellbusch elected President of FEMA (Farm
Equipment Manufacturers Association) |
| 2001 |
Jim Hellbusch receives Columbus Chamber of
Commerce Archway Award, Outstanding Businessman of the Year. |
| 2002 |
Duo Lift diversifies and introduces a Salt
Brinemaker to the market. This machine produces salt brine to exact
proportions to be used for anti-icing and de-icing of roads and highways. |
| 2003 |
60th Anniversary Celebration: Duo
Lift celebrates 60 years of quality products and also introduces a new large
capacity LB-2200 Lowboy wagon for anhydrous ammonia tanks and liquid poly
tanks. |
| 2004 |
Expansion of Agricultural and Commercial sales
territories. Connie Hellbusch named Chairman-elect of the Columbus
Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. |
| 2005 |
Connie Hellbusch elected Chairman
of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce. The E-P division of Duo Lift
increases sales of utility trailers to construction companies and state
departments. Tim Talbott is added to the Sales staff. |
| 2006 |
Duo Lift holds its Bi-Annual
Distributor Meeting in Columbus, NE were two new liquid wagons are unveiled
with promise that more new products are to come! Duo Lift also
expands its Sales Department with the addition of John Lehmkuhl and Ben
Hellbusch to the Sales Department. Duo Lift also continues to work
with more utility companies and state governments. |
| 2007 |
The TD-1200-CB Tandem Cone Bottom,
SLB-1200-CB-A Lowboy Cone Bottom, and the SLB-1010 Lowboy Drainable
unveiled at last years Distributor Meeting are launched into the
market. All of these wagons are available with an adjustable track. |
