Anderson Equipment Group is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, and company President Judy Anderson told Equipment Finance News that she credits financial stability “during extremely volatile times” for the longevity.
Anderson Equipment Group, founded May 28, 1935, in Bridgeville, Pa., has become one of the largest equipment distributors in the Northeast, operating 19 locations with more than 300 employees across six states in the region.
Anderson’s primary line of equipment since the early 1980s has been Komatsu, a construction, mining and utility OEM that had fiscal 2024 sales of $24.9 billion, according to Komatsu’s April 28 earnings release. In addition, the dealer group manages several other product lines, including Takeuchi, Dynapac and Mecalac.
The company recently shared with EFN its origins, achievements, challenges, operations, and future plans.
Equipment Finance News: How was the company founded and what was its original mission?
Judy Anderson: Anderson was founded by H.W. Anderson and C.K. Burson in 1935. H.W. Anderson was an entrepreneur and salesman and C.K. Burson was in finance. They founded Anderson Equipment Co. with the intention of creating a heavy equipment distributor that could handle the ever-evolving needs of western Pennsylvania in the 1930s. The construction and surface mining industries in Pennsylvania and West Virginia provided opportunities for expansion and growth for the next five decades. Since its inception, Anderson’s approach has been anticipating customer needs, providing quality products and outstanding service.
EFN: What are the biggest milestones the company has achieved over the years?
JA: During the past 90 years, the company has successfully maintained financial stability and profitability during extremely volatile economic times. This resulted in Anderson being able to expand its territory and industry diversification through acquisition when most companies were struggling. Anderson began as a distributor in Pennsylvania and now has a territory that includes Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont.
A significant factor behind its 90-year milestone is the commitment by Anderson’s owners and continuity of management represented by three generations of Anderson family leadership. My husband Bill Gex and I have managed the company for almost 30 years and continue to strive for financial success driven by dedicated employees, loyal customers and flexibility to adjust to changing economic trends and business needs.
EFN: What were some of the biggest challenges the company faced, and how were they overcome?
JA: During Anderson’s history, it has faced many challenges, most significantly the deaths of founder Harold Anderson and his successor as president, Richard Anderson. The commitment by the Anderson family to continue to lead and invest in the company pursuant to these events demonstrates the strength of its focus on the company and its legacy. Bill and I are committed to succession planning by developing an exceptional senior management team and providing employees opportunities to work rotations throughout the company. Don Gex, fourth generation, is participating in a rotation currently as an IT senior analyst. In addition, 19 out of 25 senior managers have more than 10 years of tenure. Our leaders have a wealth of knowledge to impart to new employees as well as the company’s values and passion for Anderson Equipment Co.
EFN: How has Anderson adapted to manufacturer-driven territory changes while continuing to support its customers and expand its operations?
JA: Over the years Anderson, like most distributors, has had to respond to decisions by its manufacturers affecting territory rights. As mentioned earlier, Anderson has continued to invest in facilities and people to provide equipment and service to customers despite these changes.
EFN: What does the future look like for the company, and what are its goals for the next decade?
JA: The future for Anderson is exciting. With operations in six states and specializations serving construction, mining, forestry and material handling, our company is diversified to withstand economic volatility within industries and geographic regions. While we may not know where the next challenges will come from, we can look back on our history and have confidence that we have a solid infrastructure of facilities, exceptional employees and the financial strength to not only overcome them, but to thrive during those times.
