Minneapolis-based Donaldson Co. Inc. provides filtration systems and replacement parts for the industrial and diesel-engine markets, including air and liquid filters and exhaust and emission control products for mobile equipment; in-plant air-cleaning systems, compressed air-purification systems, and air-intake systems for industrial gas turbines; and specialized filters for diverse applications such as computer disk drives, aircraft passenger cabins and semiconductor processing. Some of the company's brands include PowerCore, Ultrafilter, Torit, Endurance, Downflo, Spider-Web, Dura-Life and Ultra-Web. Donaldson has operations throughout North and South America, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and Africa.
History
Donaldson was founded in 1915 by Frank Donaldson Sr. when he developed an air cleaner to solve a farmer's tractor problems. In the late 1920s, crop fires caused by engine sparks fueled the company's diversification into exhaust products. By the 1950s, the company began selling its products worldwide and had established operations in England to support tractor manufacturer Caterpillar Inc. In the early 1970s, the company entered the dust-collection business when it acquired the Torit Co. Donaldson continued expanding into the 1990s with numerous acquisitions, including Aercology (small dust-collection products), AirMaze (compressor products) and DCE (dust collection, specializing in baghouse filtration products). In 2005, the company reported sales of $1.6 billion, up from $1.4 billion the previous year.
Officers
William Cook was elected to the company's board of directors in May 2004 and named president and CEO Aug. 1, 2004. He joined the company in 1980 and held various senior leadership positions, including senior vice president of the company's commercial and industrial division, senior vice president of the international division and CFO. Tom VerHage joined the company as vice president and CFO March 1, 2004. Previously, he worked as a senior partner for Deloitte & Touche LLP where he was the lead client service partner for a number of large multinational manufacturing companies.
In The News: Donaldson Provides Clean-Air Solutions
An independent study conducted by a clean-air advocacy group found that a Donaldson Co. diesel particulate filter combined with the company's Spiracle crankcase filtration system significantly reduced crankcase emissions within a school bus cabin. The Clean Air Task Force's study, released July 21, focused on how bus pollution affects air quality inside the school buses. The diesel particulate filter reduces ultra-fine particles emitted from the tailpipe, and Donaldson's Spiracle system reduces particulate matter from the engine crankcase. "The Donaldson Spiracle was an inexpensive solution to control crankcase emissions," the report states.
-- Compiled By Jonathan Katz. This appeared in IW's Dec. 16, 2005 issue.
Primary Industry
Machinery
Executive 1
William G. Van Dyke, Chmn.
Executive 2
William M. Cook, CEO, Pres.
Revenues (US$ Millions)
1414.98
Revenue Growth (%)
16.15
Earnings Per Share (US$)
1.18
Total Equity (US$ Millions)
549.29
Profit Margin (%)
7.51
Return On Equity (%)
23.76
Debt To Equity Ratio (%)
0.13
Market Capitalization (US$ Millions)
NA
Revenue Growth (%)
16.15
Note: Financial data appeared in IW's August 2005 issue.
IW 50 Best Manufacturing Company
