Thomas by Ingersoll Rand:

Our history since 1948

2020

Gardner Denver and Ingersoll Rand merge forming a new bigger Ingersoll Rand. Thomas becomes one of the brands under the Ingersoll Rand umbrella.

2019

On July 8, 2019, Gardner Denver Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GDI), a leading global provider of mission-critical flow control and compression equipment, announced that it has acquired Oina VV AB, for a net purchase price of approximately $10 million funded by cash on hand. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, Oina specializes in customized pump solutions for liquid handling processes for use in medical, process, and industrial applications. Oina will be part of Ingersoll Rand’s Medical Business Unit.

2019

On April 30, 2019, Gardner Denver announced that it has agreed to combine with Ingersoll Rand’s Industrial Segment to create a global leader in mission-critical flow creation and industrial technologies. This combination brings together two highly complementary companies with a combined history of over 300 years and a shared commitment to operational excellence, innovation, and quality.

2017

Gardner Denver Announces Pricing of its Initial Public Offering

2013

Gardner Denver, a US based company, founded in 1859, was acquired by KKR and the company taken private. The company was restructured into three major and distinct operating units - Industrial, Energy, and Medical Groups.

The brands Thomas, Welch and Ilmvac, with significant focus on Medical OEM and Laboratory Science applications formed the Gardner Denver Medical group. The group develops and manufactures relatively small compressors, gas and liquid pumps and modules for the medical, laboratory, environmental and numerous other demanding markets. Organizing these three brands in the Medical Group allowed us to align the business processes and development efforts to our customer needs.

2005

Gardner Denver acquired Thomas Industries, a manufacturer of systems, compressors, vacuum pumps, liquid pumps and OEM pumps in the medical, laboratory, environmental and industrial sector, as well as Welch Vacuum Technology, a manufacturer of an innovative range of vacuum pumps, modular systems and network solutions for use in laboratory (laboratory vacuum pumps) and industry (industrial vacuum pumps).

2002

Thomas Industries, Inc. announced another major acquisition of Werner Rietschle GmbH + Co. KG, one of the world`s leading manufacturers of precision-engineered pumps and compressors, creating Rietschle Thomas.

1998

In the company`s 50th year, Thomas Industries and the Genlyte Group entered into a joint venture, creating Genlyte Thomas Group LLC.

1996

Thomas Industries, acquired Welch Vacuum Technology to create a new presence in the laboratory market for deep vacuum flow control devices.

1989

Thomas realigned its operating divisions into two groups and defined a long-range goal of concentrating on its two core businesses: Lighting and Compressors/Vacuum Pumps. Non-core businesses were divested.

1985

Thomas entered into a joint venture with ASF GmbH & Co KG, a major player in air compressor and vacuum pump technologies.

1976

Thomas Industries got the patent US 3.961.868 for a breakthrough innovation, the WOB-L pump technology.

1970

Thomas continued to diversify its product lines, acquiring companies that manufactured a wide range of products from paint brushes to central vacuum systems.

1967

Thomas Industries` stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

1958

Thomas Industries acquired the Benjamin Electric Company and C&M Products of Canada.

1955

Thomas Industries Incorporated moved its headquarters to Louisville, Kentucky.

1948

The first investor to further build the foundation for the todays Medical Group was Lee B. Thomas who acquired in 1948 a company from the Moe family that produced inlighting systems. He built Thomas Industries in 1953 with numerous acquisitions and reorganizations. The scope of the company moved from lighting to spray systems, leak detection systems and finally to the still available unique portfolio of different pump technologies.

BL-G 12/02-4 - Rotary Vane Vacuum Pump Brochure