Hamm Compaction presence in North America was greatly boosted after the March 2000 acquisition of Hamm AG of Germany by Wirtgen GmbH, when Hamm became part of Wirtgen Group.
But even before Hamm's relaunch in North America after 2000 as a division of Wirtgen America Inc., Hamm customers benefited from more than a century of experience and tradition in building durable and technologically advanced construction equipment. That's why Hamm compaction equipment is "Generations Ahead" of the competition!
In 1878 Franz and Anton Hamm founded Gebrüder HAMM ("Hamm Brothers") in Tirschenreuth, Germany, near the Czech border. The brothers adapted their mechanical skills as gunsmiths to manufacture agricultural equipment. Later, while successful in farm equipment, Hamm turned its attention to compaction. In an age of steam rollers, in 1911, Hans Hamm designed and built the first diesel-powered road roller. This revolutionary milestone underscores Hamm's reputation for technological innovation enjoyed throughout the world.
As the "horseless carriage" became commonplace, the European road network is improved and expanded. In response, in 1928 Hamm moves from agricultural products to concentrate exclusively on the development and manufacturing of road rollers.
In 1932, Alois Hamm develops the first tandem roller with all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering, revolutionizing the compactor manufacturing industry to the present day. Until 1970, Hamm was the only manufacturer in the world able to build tandem rollers with all-wheel drive and all-wheel steering, with the exception of a license granted to Japan in 1964. With the boom in long-haul road construction, this type of compactor was used by road construction companies all over the world.
Hamm embraced the streamlined style of the 1950s with an aesthetic, airflow-inspired line of compactors in 1956 (but without the chrome!). Sales in exports surged after 1953 and manufacture for foreign markets becomes a major corporate strategy.
In 1963, Hamm debuted a rubber-wheeled roller with all-wheel steering and all-wheel drive, and presented the prototype of the world's first construction machine with hydrostatic drive. Two years later, in 1965, Hamm's rubber-wheeled rollers such as GRW 10 and GRW 15 have been built on that same stable platform and have contributed to the excellent reputation of Hamm products all over the world.
Hamm's exclusive Oscillation compaction began tests in 1983, in response to new developments in pavement technology. Unlike normal vibratory rolling, which compacts the material by vertical vibrations, the revolutionary Oscillation method keeps the compacting drum in continuous contact with the pavement or soil, utilizing horizontal rather than vertical forces. The result is much more efficient compaction with less stress on the operator, material and the environment. This technology was introduced to the industry in 1989.
In 1999 Hamm becomes the third member of the Wirtgen "Three Amigos", following its acquisition by Wirtgen GmbH. In 2000 Hamm introduces the innovative and forward-looking Series 3000 soil compactor line. At Bauma 2001 in Munich, Hamm is awarded with the famous Innovationspreis des Deutschen Baumaschinentages (German Prize for Innovative Construction Equipment) for the design of Series 3000, one of three design awards for this line.
And in North America, after 2000, Hamm distribution is moved from Dallas to the ultramodern Wirtgen Group sales and customer service facilities in Nashville. In 2002, at Hamm headquarters in Tirschenreuth, Germany, construction was completed on a new $25 million state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.
In 2003, Hamm marked its 125th anniversary with international guests, and provided a glimpse at technical developments in compaction yet to come. For the North American customer, Hamm truly is a pioneer in the development of machines for road construction, airport and dam projects. We're proud of our tradition of technological innovation. We invite you to put this heritage to work for you. |
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– 1878 –
HAMM gets its start
"Maschinenfabrik Gebr, HAMM" was founded in Tirschenreuth by
the brothers Franz and Anton Hamm.
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