Our Legacy | Stewart & Stevenson (2024)

Stewart & Stevenson originated in Houston, TX, as a blacksmith shop shoeing horses and a carriage shop manufacturing carriages and wagons.

C. Jim Stewart & Stevenson repaired their first “horseless carriage.”

As the automobile became more prevalent, the company shifted its focus to automobile repair and customization.

The company became a GMC truck distributor and builder
of truck body variants.

Stewart & Stevenson acquired a distributorship for GM diesel engines, and began harnessing diesel power for various applications.

Stewart & Stevenson built hundreds of tow tractor/push vehicles and self-propelled bomb ordinance loaders for the U.S. Air Force.

During World War II, we provided diesel generators, assembled hundreds of 6×6 trucks, refurbished thousands of Jeeps, and re-powered tanks.

Stewart & Stevenson developed one of the first 45 kW light power generators for the U.S. military.

Stewart & Stevenson manufactured a “swamp buggy” for support of oil exploration in Gulf Coast marsh areas.

Entered the aircraft ground support business with GM Detroit Diesels. During the decade, designed and built approximately 1000 low silhouette, self-propelled GPUs with a 400 Hz, 90 kVA generator set for major airlines.

Signed distributorship for Hyster industrial forklifts.

Designed, built, and marketed oilfield self-propelled service units under the trade name “Fieldmaster.”

Expanded the ground support equipment product line with tow tractor for various airlines.

Built oilfield frac trucks.

Entered gas turbine – powered industry & pleasure craft engines.

Designed and built Land Leveler vehicle used for leveling an area that was to be water flooded for rice fields.

Formed the Thermo King division.

JV GM Detroit Diesel Sales in Venezuela.

Started building GE gas turbine power packages for offshore oil rigs.

California Cogen – power producing industry. Competed for the U.S. Army’s M939 A2 5-ton program.

Through a joint venture with Mercedes Benz, built 700 “Starship” transit buses from 1987-1992.

Granted exclusive territory for EMD engines, included 10 southern states, Mexico & Central America.

Awarded a John Deere light industrial dealership.

Designed and built Rail King railcar mover.

Awarded contract to build $1.2 billion of 2.5 & 5-ton trucks for U.S. Army.

Acquired PAMCO – Waukesha gas compression & generating equipment.

Signed agreement with European Gas Turbines Ltd., packager of mid-range units. Marketed large self-propelled snowblowers for use at airports and on roadways.

Competed for the U.S. Marine/Army Medium Tactical Truck Replacement (MTTR) Program, August 1996.

Began production in September of second multi-year contract for the next FMTV increment of 10,000 vehicles.

Sold gas-turbine division to GE Power Systems. Acquired TUG aircraft ground support vehicles business.

Sold John Deere dealership. Formed the Specialty Wheeled Vehicle Division.

Stewart & Stevenson stock moved to New York Stock Exchange; shares sold under new ticker symbol “SVC.”

Stewart & Stevenson celebrated 100 years in manufacturing. Company focused on four business groupings: Power Products, Tactical Vehicle Systems, Engineered Products and S&S TUG

HEV transit bus package added (hybrid “clean engine”)

Stewart & Stevenson awarded U.S. Army’s FMTV A1CR Contract for 10,000 trucks and trailers through 2008.

Key business partners: Allison Transmission, Detroit Diesel/MTU, DEUTZ, Electro-Motive Division, Hyster and Waukesha. Power Products executed new contracts with Detroit Diesel and DaimlerChrysler for distribution and servicing of diesel engine products. Obtained contracts for FMTV Low Signature Armored Cab (LSAC). Exited Thermo King, TUG airline, Distributed Energy Solutions.

Refocused on three segments: Tactical Vehicle Systems, Power Products and Engineered Products.

Tactical Vehicle Systems merged with Armor Holdings, Inc.
Engineered Products and Power Products divisions sold to Hushang Ansary; becomes Stewart & Stevenson LLC. Company focus: manufacture of equipment for oil & gas market, international expansion.

Stewart & Stevenson LLC acquired Crown Energy Technologies, Inc., expanding the company’s line of stimulation equipment for the oil & gas industry and adding rigs to the product line.

Stewart & Stevenson LLC acquired EMDSI-Hunt Power LLC, to be merged with S&S EMD operations (primarily New Orleans branch) and expand EMD sales and service internationally, as well as use international territories gained to expand oil & gas products and services internationally.

Stewart & Stevenson LLC acquired Atlantic Detroit Diesel-Allison and Florida Detroit Diesel-Allison.

Expanded the Rental Operations with S&S branded Taylor forklifts added to rental of generators, air compressors, forklifts, and Rail King railcar movers.

Kirby Corporation (“Kirby”) (NYSE: KEX) announced the closing of the acquisition of substantially all of the assets and businesses of Stewart & Stevenson LLC.