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Stewart & Stevenson is an industrial equipment company that manufactures and distributes specialized equipment for the power generation, marine, construction, materials handling, mining, agriculture, and transportation industries.
The company’s history stretches back to 1902, when C. Jim Stewart and Joe R. Stevenson first started the business as a blacksmith shop and carriage company in Houston, Texas.
History of Stewart & Stevenson
Stewart & Stevenson Car Parts is a manufacturer and distributor of specialized equipment, parts and services for the oil and gas, marine, construction, power generation, transportation and mining industries. The company offers a range of standardized products and custom solutions that help customers save time and money, improve safety and efficiency and increase operational productivity.
Founded in 1903, the company was initially started as a horse and buggy business by C. Jim Stewart, a blacksmith and Joe R. Stevenson, a woodworker. After a few years, the pair decided to diversify their business and focus on cars instead of horses.
In the 1920s, they began designing and building customized truck bodies for customers’ needs. This allowed them to build a vehicle based on a customer’s specific requirements without the expense and risk of manufacturing a completely new body from scratch.
Later on, they also customized diesel engines to meet the unique needs of customers in various industries. This strategy helped them survive the Great Depression and compete against automobile assembly lines, which were able to produce more sophisticated designs.
With the onset of the oil crisis in the early 1980s, they experienced significant losses and had to write off $26 million in losses. This forced them to lay off a large portion of their labor force and cut their executive compensation by 20 percent.
However, they were able to recover their losses and improve their financial performance by expanding into other markets. They entered the military trucks market in 1985, winning a contract to build an army truck that could haul tanks, munitions, and other supplies.
To reduce costs, management used a combination of commercial components to build the truck, including cab parts from an Australian company, a transmission from Allison, an engine from Caterpillar, an axle from Rockwell, and tires from Michelin. This allowed them to cut the cost of the truck significantly, and they were able to win more contracts for tactical vehicles from the U.S. army, the United Kingdom ministry of defence, and other countries.
The company is currently in the process of selling the engineered products division for $60 million to Ansary. The sale will bring the two divisions under one roof. Ansary plans to operate the power products and engineered products divisions as a single entity under the Stewart & Stevenson brand.
Customized Car & Truck Bodies
Stewart & Stevenson Car Parts offers an array of custom car & truck bodies for customers in the United States. These include cabs, hoods, grilles and more. The company also offers repair services, as well as a variety of other related products.
The company has a long history of manufacturing innovative, functional and aesthetically pleasing vehicle accessories. These items include air filters, windshield wipers, radiators, batteries, brakes and a host of other parts and components.
During the 1920s, the company began to offer customized car & truck bodies. This involved purchasing a car or truck chassis and adding engines and other components from various manufacturers. This type of production was a major step forward in the development of the automotive industry and helped Stewart & Stevenson compete with the assembly line competition.
Today, Stewart & Stevenson is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kirby Corporation (NYSE: KEX). As a leading distributor of premier equipment, parts and service solutions, the company serves a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, power generation, on-highway, construction and industrial, marine and many more.
The company offers a wide selection of automotive parts and accessories that can be purchased online or at your local auto parts store. They are also a leader in providing truck body equipment and van accessories such as spray liners, emergency lighting, lift kits, leveling kits, wheels and tires, and more. The company also has an impressive arsenal of tools, as well as a team of dedicated service professionals. The best part is that they can be counted on for fast, reliable and dependable service. The company even provides free technical support for their customers, so you can rest assured that your vehicle is in good hands.
Customized Diesel Engines
As one of the world’s leading providers of power systems and related mechanical equipment, Stewart & Stevenson Car Parts is a name you can trust. Their product line includes generator sets for electric power, and diesel and gas-powered equipment that serves a variety of industries, including oil and gas, power generation, on-highway, construction and industrial, and marine.
Their offerings also include railcar movers, which are high-tech vehicles designed to carry a wide range of cargo across railroad tracks. They are powered by Volvo Penta engines, which offer a variety of power outputs and features, such as the company’s innovative SCR-based exhaust aftertreatment system.
The company’s most significant product is its custom engine division, which specializes in creating and selling engine packages for various industries. Their engine division is the largest in the United States, and its engine programs are geared toward powering the likes of ice plants, cotton gins, lumber mills and other industries that require the highest performance and efficiency possible.
Stewart & Stevenson’s other notable engine offerings include a full line of heavy duty, state-of-the-art turbocharged gas engines. Their top-of-the-line units feature high compression ratios, large diameter crankshafts, and advanced cylinder heads, among other high-tech features.
In addition to their engine products, the company has an extensive line of automotive parts and accessories. Browse their online store or stop by your local Advance Auto for all of your automotive needs.
The best thing about Stewart & Stevenson is its ability to offer a variety of solutions for a diverse customer base. Its innovative products and service capabilities have helped the company become one of the most recognized names in the industry. To learn more about their extensive range of custom diesel engines and other engine related products, visit their website today. They are a Kirby Corporation (NYSE: KEX) subsidiary.
Military Trucks
If you’re into the military, or just love a good truck, Stewart & Stevenson has you covered. They offer military trucks that can be used to haul supplies, fuel, and even people around.
The M1078 LMTV stands for “Light Medium Tactical Vehicle.” These four-wheeled, 2 1/2-ton trucks are designed to replace the iconic M35 family of ten-tired, six-wheeled trucks. Like the M35s, these LMTVs are equipped with a 6.6-liter Caterpillar turbodiesel engine and a seven-speed Allison transmission, and they’re designed to last a long time while working hard.
They’re also made from the same cold-formed C-section high-grade 758 MPa steel chassis that is used on other commercial big rigs and construction equipment. They’ve gone through a 22-year accelerated corrosion test, and the seller reports that the suspension has been serviced and that the cab is in excellent condition.
A lot of these LMTVs are being used for specialized applications, such as oil & gas operations command center vehicles, fire trucks, and high water rescue trucks. One local electrical contractor has a fleet of these LMTVs and they’re also often used to haul heavy cargo and equipment to backcountry locations.
These LMTVs come in all sizes, from 5 tons to 10 tons, so you can find one that will fit your needs. They’re also available in a variety of body styles, including cargo packages and dump trucks.
You can purchase a military truck online, but you should also consider checking out auction houses and Craigslist. A lot of surplus army vehicles are already titled and tagged for street legal use, but you should check with your local DMV before purchasing to make sure you don’t need any special permits.
For example, California and Colorado aren’t friendly toward street-legal surplus military vehicles, so if you live in those states, you might want to look elsewhere for a good deal on a great truck.
The Acela Monterra 6×6 High Water Rescue truck starts as a decommissioned Stewart & Stevenson military 4×4 chassis. The Acela truck company (based in Belgrade, Montana) takes these chassis and goes through a complete vehicle reconditioning and reset process to produce a commercial-grade 4×4 or 6×6 high water rescue truck. All of the parts are properly prepped and painted and reassembled according to strict processes in a LEAN manufacturing environment with over 600 brand new parts. These high water rescue trucks are perfect for quick response when disaster strikes.