In 1914, three Pennsylvania firefighters banded together with the intent of building a better fire pump. They succeeded. Their combined spirit of ingenuity and grit lives on today as Hale Products. Those three men—Alan C. Hale, E.J. Wendell, and C.H. Young, Jr—developed the first Hale fire pump using improved gasoline engine technology and christened it the “Young Giant.” During the next century of innovation, Hale Products has solidified itself as a leader in reliability, performance, and excellence.
Leading the Way for Fire and Rescue Manufacturers
Hale Products prides itself on continuing to grow and make better products for the fire and rescue industry. During the 1980s, Hale made two key acquisitions: Hurst and Godiva. Hurst, the famed Jaws of Life® developer, gave Hale Products its first entry into the rescue market. In 1984, Hale acquired Godiva, located in Warwick, England. One of the leading fire pump manufacturers outside the U.S., Godiva’s focus on portable, high-pressure, and rear-mounted pumps immediately impacted Hale’s mission to support firefighters.
In May 1994, Hale Products was acquired by IDEX Corporation, located in Northbrook, IL. A diverse corporation with prominent national and international markets in fluid handling, dispensing, and industrial machinery, IDEX was a natural partner for Hale. Formed in 1988, IDEX is a publicly traded company that makes thousands of mission-critical products and components used in everyday activities. Throughout its ownership, IDEX has supported Hale Products’ tactical vision for growth by acquiring key fire and rescue manufacturers.
Committed to Growth
The Hale Products story is one of growth and innovation. Today, we're the leader in fire suppression pumps, plumbing, valves, foam & CAFS, electronics, and gauges. We're also the home of SAM, the revolutionary integrated total water control system that manages fire truck pumps, tank intakes, and discharges.
Hale Products has expanded into a full-spectrum solution for fire and rescue crews worldwide. Through strategic global acquisitions, Hale became the leader in hydraulic rescue tools, electronics, rescue products, environmental protection products, stabilization struts, jacks, and more.
- 1995: Lukas Hydraulic GmbH – The leading European manufacturer of hydraulic rescue tools and re-railing equipment.
- 2001: Class 1 – The leading supplier of custom electronic instrumentation, controls, and plumbing components for heavy-duty ground emergency, agricultural, and construction vehicles. Earned ISO 9001 registration.
- 2004: Manfred Vetter GmbH and Company – Vetter manufactures some of the finest rescue products available, including lifting bags, sealing bags, decontamination tents, and other rescue and environmental protective products.
- 2005: Tianjin Dinglee – The leading manufacturer of rescue tools in China, was acquired by Hale, solidifying Hale as the leader in rescue tools and opening access to the Asian market.
- 2006: Airshore International — Hale Products’ most recent acquisition. Airshore is one of the top manufacturers of stabilization struts, jacks, and more.
Engineered for Those Who Run Towards Danger
Standing on the shoulders of the young giants who have come before us, our products are engineered for those who run toward danger. Our products are designed to equip and empower first responders with the equipment they need to get the job done quickly and safely. As a leader in firefighter safety and reliability, we pride ourselves on embracing new technologies with an ironclad commitment to quality and performance. Our team is dedicated to building products that help save lives around the world.