Briggs Celebrates 125th Anniversary
Briggs Equipment turns 125 years old!
Founded in 1896, Briggs has grown tremendously throughout the years and is excited to use this anniversary as an opportunity to look back on the incredible things we have accomplished and people we have served. Briggs-Weaver began with the goal of becoming the nation’s largest and best industrial supplier; as the company evolved and Briggs Equipment was born, the goal remained constant. Our highly regarded reputation of providing the best supplies, equipment, and services is driven by our loyalty to put customer service first. Briggs now has 29 different locations nationwide and has become one of the nation’s top equipment rental operators. In addition to being the largest Yale forklift dealer, we are also the largest dealer of Trackmobile rail car movers. Briggs Equipment has the honor of representing a variety of other materials handling equipment manufacturers, such as Hyster, JCB, Kalmar Ottawa, Genie, Kärcher, Taylor-Dunn, Polaris, and other great manufacturers. Our journey throughout the past 125 years has been unforgettable; take a look at the timeline below to relive some of our most memorable moments!
1896
With the desire to build the nation's best industrial supplier, J.C. Weaver & C.H. Briggs partnered to create Briggs-Weaver in Dallas, Texas.
1904
As a result of early success, Briggs-Weaver became an incorporated company and moved into a new headquarters, also in Dallas
1938
Charles Sammons founds Sammons Enterprises Inc. in Dallas, Texas
1949
Briggs-Weaver opens a Houston, TX branch as a result of a boom in business post World War II
1952
Charles A. Sammons, founder of Sammons Enterprises, takes ownership of Briggs-Weaver
1953
Briggs-Weaver adds Trackmobile railcar mover brand to the family of equipment
1959
Briggs becomes a Yale Forklift dealer, distributing Yale's full line of products
1971
Briggs begins partnership with Kalmar Ottawa, a truck manufacturer from Ottawa, Kansas known for its superior quality and reliability
1978
Sammons Enterprises opens Employee Stock Ownership Plan, in which all qualified employees become owners
1986
Capital Equipment Division formed within Briggs-Weaver; these branches include Dallas, Houston, Fort Worth, New Orleans, Freeport, and Beaumont
1988
Briggs opens Baton Rouge, LA & Mobile, AL branches
1994
Briggs expands operations into Mexico by contracting with Chrysler Derramadero & Phoenix, AZ & Tucson, AZ branches acquired within U.S.
1996
Briggs Equipment formed as a separate Sammons Enterprises Company
1998
Phoenix, AZ , Tucson, AZ , and San Diego, CA branches sold to allow for acquisition of Atlanta, GA branch
Briggs starts scholarship program for the children of Briggs employees
2006
Briggs starts scholarship program for the children of Briggs employees
2007
Briggs expands operations into the United Kingdom, as a CAT dealer & Briggs International formed
2012
Briggs adds 15 new locations in the Barloworld acquisition; creating a partnership between Briggs and Hyster and making Briggs one of the largest Hyster dealers in the U.S.
2016
Briggs expands its Hyster footprint into Texas through the acquisition of assets from Stewart & Stevenson
2017
Briggs continues expansion with MacKinnon Equipment & Services acquisition, acquiring five Yale and JCB dealerships throughout Georgia and Florida
2019
Briggs announces partnership with Kärcher, a German-engineered cleaning equipment manufacturer. Briggs also launches new and improved website
2020
Briggs announces partnership with Polaris, American manufacturer of utility vehicles. And, Sammons ranks #73 on the Forbes 100 list.
2021
Briggs expands partnership with Princeton, the leading North American manufacturer of truck mounted forklifts
