Long-time Anthony Liftgates president Thomas Walker and vice president Jeremy Walker say they are acquiring full ownership of the Pontiac IL-headquartered company, effective Jan 1, 2020.
The Walkers began managing Anthony, which manufactures a broad line of commercial-grade liftgates for the North American transportation industry, in 1982, helping revive the liftgate business of former equipment industry heavyweight Anthony Company following its financial woes in the late 1970s.
PMW at one time contained as many as five manufacturing businesses jointly held by up to 12 members of the Walker family, with each business entity operated separately by five brothers. Other recent PMW holdings include Streator Dependable Manufacturing, US Truck Body, Brave Products Company, and Mushro Machine and Tool, all of Streator IL, with approximately 400 combined employees.
Thomas Walker added that the acquisition, which is the result of extensive succession planning, marks the final step in a multi-year bid to focus their efforts.
“It is fun to see the Walker family continue a passion for manufacturing, now extending four generations,” Jeremy Walker said. “Our products, factory and operations are better than they have ever been.
“We have high hopes for Anthony as a completely independent company.”
