IMT

1960s Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. (IMT) was founded in 1961 in Garner, Iowa. The business was initially recutting and revamping tire re-capping molds. However, through a very successful innovation, which was a refinement ......1960s Iowa Mold Tooling Co., Inc. (IMT) was founded in 1961 in Garner, Iowa. The business was initially recutting and revamping tire re-capping molds. However, through a very successful innovation, which was a refinement of an air compressor that mounted under the hood and operated off the engine of a tire service truck, a new product was born. One innovation led to another, and by 1965 IMT offered a completely self-contained tire service truck. The company soon outgrew its original building and moved to a downtown location in Garner, Iowa, and in May 1969 moved again to a 52,400 square feet steel building on 14 acres of land along Highway 18 West. The move to larger facilities enabled the company to handle diverse manufacturing capabilities in the service body and hydraulic crane lines. 1970s The 1970s saw many new innovations in the product line, including a full line of hydraulic truck-mounted cranes in 1971 and a complete line of lubrication and mechanics trucks in 1974. Our first wallboard crane was introduced in 1976, followed by our first telescoping crane two years later. We became a major American manufacturer of service-related equipment including truck-mounted cranes mechanics trucks and lube trucks cable reel loaders and air compressor systems. We also found ourselves the largest articulating crane manufacturer in North America, with more than 50 models of hydraulic and truck-mounted cranes. 1980s In September 1985, IMT became a subsidiary of Ohio-based Sudbury, Inc. The 1980s saw us introduce such new product lines as hydraulic, gas, diesel, PTO-shaft, and mono-block air systems, and in 1987, with the addition of Des Moines-based Mid-America Body and Equipment, we began to offer hydraulic cable reel loaders for the utility industry. In 1988, we introduced a fiberglass utility body and began using a CAD system to provide detailed 3-D assembly drawings for an extensive range of products. Not only were the product line and sales increasing, but our original building — just 52,400 square feet in 1969 — had been increased to over 200,000 square feet by 1990. By the end of the decade, IMT equipment was being used in more than 70 countries throughout the world. 1990s In the 1990s, several expansion projects changed the outer structure of the plant, increasing the total square footage to over 300,000. The manufacturing area also experienced a dramatic change with the integration of new CNC machinery, robotic welders (1997, 1998), and a state-of-the-art laser (1999). This additional technology allowed most IMT products to be made from scratch, decreasing outsourcing and increasing production. Throughout the 1990s, the CAD system underwent a progression of upgrades, including the addition of the Finite Elemental Analysis (FEA), which allowed engineering to validate the design structure of products before parts were manufactured. Solid models produced from the CAD System developed FEA data that allowed for prototypes to be created in less time and with less cost, resulting in products with enhanced performance and innovative designs. Crane design refinements during this period included longer reach, radio-remote options, lighter weights, and the development of new electrical systems. Our truck bodies were improved, too, with modern, structurally sound designs, hydraulics, wiring systems, and air compressor systems. In 1996, we introduced a rotary screw compressor with 175 psi and 45 cfm. The Predator® tire service body followed in 1999, and featured a new air compressor system, increased storage space, an improved calcium chloride system, the Bussman Vehicle Electrical Center, radio remote control, and a dash-mounted wireless remote control for lighting. In 1996, IMT consolidated all its worldwide branches in the Garner facility to improve efficiency of operations, and international and domestic sales were integrated to give employees the opportunity to work together in teams. Intermet Corporation of Detroit, Mich., purchased IMT in December of 1996. IMT formed an alliance with a European crane manufacturer to expand our product offering, and increased our focus on markets in South America, Australia, and Indonesia. Sales and marketing began to implement such services and programs as the Smart Build quoting software, the IMT Web site, a used trucks sales site, CD-ROM product training, in-service videos, and online ordering of IMT literature. In late 2000, IMT was acquired by American Capital Strategies, Ltd. IMT Today In August 2006, IMT became a wholly owned subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation, a leading manufacturer of specialty trucks and truck bodies. Citing our leadership position in technology and our brand recognition within the service-vehicle and truck-mounted-crane markets, Oshkosh called the purchase “a bolt-on acquisition aligned with our long-held acquisition strategy.” With 360 employees, IMT now operates completely out of the Garner facility and has evolved into a leading