ASV celebrates 40 years of innovation
By Adam Freill
Construction EquipmentCompact track and skid-steer loader brand celebrates a milestone anniversary with tours, activities, and a look back at its history.
ASV’s 40th Anniversary celebration included a full lineup of legacy and new ASV models. (Photo courtesy of ASV)
A pioneer in the compact track loader market, the ASV brand turns 40 this year. The company, which builds all-purpose and all-season compact track loaders and skid steers, celebrated the occasion with an open house event at its Grand Rapids, Minn., facility earlier this month. The event featured a full lineup of legacy and new ASV models, tours of the factory, and various family activities and giveaways.
“Talk to any of our longtime staff — and there are many — and you’ll find that the same passion for the products exists now as it did on day one,” said Tate Johnson, president of the Yanmar Compact Equipment North America, which encompasses the ASV brand. “This anniversary and today’s continually innovative ASV products are proof that the brand’s entrepreneurial spirit lives on.”
ASV was founded in 1983 by two forerunners from the early snowmobile industry. A rubber-tracked vehicle the size of a pickup truck, the Track Truck was the company’s first product. While that machine was built for snowmobile trail grooming, it didn’t take long for the manufacturer to begin using its experience to develop the first Posi-Track rubber tracked compact track loader in 1990. An ongoing desire to constantly innovate brought a series of updates and upgrades, including such features as a single-rail design, metal-face sealed wheels and internal drive-sprockets.
The company now offers a full line of compact track and skid-steer loaders, primarily for the landscaping, forestry and construction markets.
