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WPI 100th Anniversary
Generations of the Pearce family look forward to WPI’s future while reflecting on 100th anniversary
In the midst of celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024, Waukesha-Pearce Industries LLC (WPI) is also focusing on the future. Part of that focus included the promotion of fourth-generation members of the Pearce family into key leadership roles, including Louis M. Pearce IV to Division President of the Engine Division and Lloyd R. French IV to Division President of the Construction Mining Division (CMD).
“There are a ton of opportunities ahead of us, which is exciting,” said Lloyd R. French IV, whose great-grandfather Louis M. Pearce Sr. founded the Houston-based company. “We believe there are further growth capabilities in expanding our footprint physically, which in turn increases our service capabilities. There is potential to diversify into other markets and industries and potential for acquisitions.”
A forward-looking vision and a commitment to better help customers with more local service, along with several strategic acquisitions, have helped the Pearce family expand WPI’s footprint. During the past few years, WPI took over the Komatsu distributorship in Louisiana, which added six branch locations in the Pelican State. It also opened new Texas facilities in Lufkin, Brownsville and the College Station/Bryan area.
The new locations are part of WPI’s CMD, which started in 1955 as Pearce Equipment Company when it became the Texas distributor for Clark Michigan wheel loaders. Shortly thereafter, the company added Lima cranes, Koehring excavators, Bantam cranes and excavators, Blaw-Knox pavers, and Tampo rollers to its product offerings.
In the early 1980s, WPI acquired the Komatsu distributorship for West Texas and later the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Prior to the appointment as a Komatsu distributor, the earlier product agreements were terminated.
In 1986, WPI acquired Plains Machinery Company, giving it a full product line with Dresser/International Harvester for the entire state of Texas. The Komatsu contract was mutually terminated, but when the Komatsu Dresser Company was formed in 1988, WPI was once again in the Komatsu family. WPI acquired the Komatsu assets from Houston Heavy Equipment in 1990, giving it the Komatsu territory it has in the state of Texas today. From 1995 to 2007, WPI was also a dealer for Komatsu in Mexico with a division known as WPI del Mexico.
Today, in addition to Komatsu, WPI also offers a wide assortment of other equipment lines from leading manufacturers such as BOMAG, SENNEBOGEN, NPK, TimberPro, Gradall, Atlas, LaBounty and more.
Always looking for opportunities
In addition to its CMD operations, WPI maintains its roots in the energy industry with its Engine Division. That division traces back to 1924 when Louis M. Pearce Sr. started the Portable Rotary Rig Company to build steam-powered drill rigs. In 1933, he acquired the Waukesha Engine distributorship for his drill rig business, and he and his son, Louis M. Pearce Jr., grew the business. Last year, the Engine Division expanded again with the acquisition of Memorial Machine, which specializes in remanufacturing engine components.
“We have always looked for good opportunities that made sense with our core products and services and are a natural fit, and Memorial is a good example,” said Louis M. Pearce IV. “That adds value to us as a company and gives us additional ways to better serve customers. I think there are other possibilities out there, and we are keeping our eyes open to them.”
He added, “A good example would be renewable energy. WPI can trace its roots back to the oil and gas industries when my great-grandfather started out. We are still firmly planted there, but we are also looking at ways to expand. The wind power and solar sectors as they grow are prime examples.”
Focused on customer success
Louis M. Pearce III noted that surviving and thriving through 100 years and four generations is an accomplishment few companies achieve, but the formula for success is simple and has been passed down from the founder to today’s leaders and WPI team members.
“We have expanded quite a bit in the last few years, and our new areas are seeing the same commitment as we have always had to providing outstanding service,” said Louis M. Pearce III, who was recently named Chief Executive Officer after almost 50 years as WPI’s president and is a third-generation family member. “We have great products, but if you don’t back them up and keep customers’ downtime to a minimum, you don’t last. That’s been true for the past 100 years and will continue to be true forever.”
He continued, “That goes with caring about customers and their success. It’s an ideal that’s been instilled in every generation of the Pearce family that’s worked here, but it’s also been instilled in everyone who has, does and will work for WPI.” ■
