PACCAR Winch brands are time tested and industry trusted since 1924.
Seattle Car Manufacturing Company was founded in 1905.
In 1917, Pacific Car and Foundry Company was created as the Seattle Car Manufacturing Company and Twohy Brothers of Portland merged.
The foundation of PACCAR Winch can be traced to 1924 when Glenn Braden founded the Braden Steel Corporation in Tulsa, OK, and began to supply equipment for the booming oil industry. The original Reliable Braden (R-B) Hub Winch was built into the back of the hub of a truck wheel. The capstan-style design found wide acceptance in both oilfield and utility use.
The first oil-soaked safety brake used in the winch industry was patented by BRADEN in 1927, setting the standard for worm gear hoisting winches.
BRADEN introduced the first conventional horizontal winch for truck bed mounting in 1928.
While BRADEN continued to grow its business primarily in the oil fields of the Midwest, a different kind of innovation was at work in the Pacific Northwest. Prior to the stock market crash of 1929, advancements were being made in the science of metallurgy. A significant contributor was Alex Finlayson, an employee of Pacific Car and Foundry Company (now PACCAR) in Seattle, WA.
Finlayson was instrumental in developing a new metal with low carbon, high manganese content. “Carcometal” was lighter in weight but twice as strong as basic steel. The material was patented and would serve as the foundation for PACCAR’s new CARCO brand that launched in 1932 with the introduction of their first tractor mounted hoist for the forestry industry.
In 1936, CARCO unveiled its first yarding winch.
The first CARCO logging winch was introduced in 1934.
The winching and hoisting industry underwent tremendous change in the years leading up to and following the end of World War II. Great strides were being made in power and efficiency, including the introduction of planetary gear systems.
Gearmatic began as a manufacturer of power transmissions in 1946 in Vancouver, British Columbia.
BRADEN broke ground for the current PACCAR Winch plant location in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma in 1947.
In 1949, BRADEN officially moved its operations to Broken Arrow.
In 1960, Gearmatic debuted its first hydraulic planetary hoist (Model 11/11E). Specializing in mobile crane, marine and pipelaying applications, Gearmatic hoists developed a reputation for exceptionally high quality.
Gearmatic was purchased by Pacific Car and Foundry Company in 1963.
BRADEN introduced the first self-contained “power drum” PD Series hoists with gearing located inside the drum in 1967. Specifically engineered for use on mobile and offshore cranes for construction and marine applications, the PD hydraulic hoists were BRADEN’s first self-contained “power drum” units with gearing located inside the drum.
In 1968, BRADEN launched the larger capacity CH (Construction Hoist) Series of planetary hydraulic hoists.
PACCAR acquired Gearmatic in 1961 and BRADEN in 1977. With three major brands now in its portfolio (combined under the PACCAR Winch Division in 1980,) PACCAR Winch continued its streak of innovation.
Pacific Car and Foundry Company was renamed to PACCAR Inc. in 1972.
BRADEN expanded its operations in 1974 to include a second plant in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.
BRADEN was purchased by PACCAR Inc. in 1977.
The PACCAR Winch Division was formed in 1980.
In 1981, BRADEN solved an important problem in relation to energy absorption and dynamic braking, particularly for vertical lifts. Long-time BRADEN engineer Dave Johnson is credited for crafting the “brains of the winch.”
The patented BRADEN Brake Valve was hailed as a significant advancement in terms of efficiency by offering operators greater speed variability alongside smoother lifting and lowering capabilities and more reliable load control.
In 1983, BRADEN, CARCO and Gearmatic were merged under the PACCAR Winch Division to leverage synergies between the brands.
Sales and manufacturing for all three PACCAR Winch brands were consolidated in Broken Arrow in 1985. The company’s products continued to evolve, with new solutions coming to market every few years.
PACCAR Winch Inc. was formed in 2018.
Today, an application-focused approach is employed by PACCAR Winch to develop the highest quality winch, hoist and drive systems for a wide range of industries. With 15 patents issued between 1978 and 2021, the pursuit of innovation has remained a priority alongside the value placed on performance, customer service and safety.
