Home/ About Us/ Our History Our History A storied past … is a story that’s just getting started. Valmont® began 75 years ago with $5,000 and a dream. The man who had that dream was Robert B. Daugherty. In 1946, he founded what was to become the company we know as Valmont Industries, Inc. Today, Valmont is a globally recognized leader in creating vital infrastructure and advancing agricultural productivity. Born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1922, Bob Daugherty was a graduate of Omaha Central High School and later attended Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. After college, he served in World War II. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, first serving in the Pacific theatre and later in China. In 1946, following the war, Frank Daugherty (Bob’s uncle and mentor) encouraged Bob to consider business opportunities. This led him to invest his life savings in a farm machine shop in Valley, Nebraska. In 1954, Daugherty purchased the licensing rights to manufacture the center pivot from inventor Frank Zybach and embarked on a journey that would revolutionize agriculture—in North America and throughout the world. Under Daugherty’s leadership, Valmont later expanded into the tubing, galvanizing and engineered infrastructure products industries. Daugherty retired from Valmont’s Board of Directors in 2004 after serving for 57 years, and continued to demonstrate his dedication to agriculture and water conservation well into his retirement. In April 2010, his charitable foundation committed $50 million to the University of Nebraska to establish the Global Water for Food Institute. The multi-campus center for research, education and policy analysis relating to the use of water for agriculture will facilitate development of solutions to the challenges of hunger, poverty, farm productivity and water management. “I can’t think of a better investment to sustain [my life’s work],” he said. Daugherty’s legacy will extend into the future as Valmont continues to grow and adapt to the global business environment. Explore the Valmont timeline to learn more about our history. 1946 Robert B. Daugherty recognized the potential of a small manufacturing company on a farm just west of Valley, Nebraska. After careful consideration, Daugherty invested $5,000—his entire life savings—in Valley Manufacturing and began building farm elevators. 1947 Frank Zybach developed a prototype center pivot irrigation machine. Zybach licensed his patent to Robert Daugherty in 1954. Valley's engineers spent the next decade refining Zybach's innovation, making it sturdier, taller, more reliable and converting it from a hydraulic power system to electric drive. 1959 Recognizing an opportunity to manufacture steel pipe and tubing for irrigation equipment as well as develop markets throughout the United States for original equipment manufacturers, steel service centers, and public and private projects, Valmont was formed. Valley continues as a separate brand focused on serving the agricultural industry. 1960s Valmont's development of high-speed, resistance welding for tubular projects led directly to the manufacturing of tapered tubes for outdoor lighting, traffic signals and other applications. 1970s Valmont expanded into the manufacturing of large tubular structures for the electrical utility industry, and developed overseas irrigation markets to form Valmont International. 1980s Valmont integrated computers into modern farming practice and created another significant breakthrough: the cams™ Management System. This system enabled growers to quickly and confidently program and monitor their equipment to automatically accomplish a full range of irrigation, coordination, chemigation and fertilization functions. Recognizing that the equipment dealers were working hard and already selling customers on using computers, Valmont established ValCom Microcomputer as a division in 1982. Meanwhile, sensing the international opportunity in infrastructure, Valmont started to embark on global expansion by investing in the French steel and aluminum lighting markets in 1989. 1990s The need for galvanizing grew and Valmont's facility in Valley was already at capacity. So, Valmont built new galvanizing plants in West Point, Nebraska, and Tulsa, Oklahoma—enabling the company to meet other manufacturers needs for protective coatings. Valmont has continued to add galvanizing operations in the U.S. and worldwide to help fulfill internal galvanization needs and, simultaneously, respond to increasing global demand for protective coatings. The company continued to broaden global scope in structures for lighting, utility and communication through acquisitions and development of new plants. A series of mergers, beginning with Microflect Company, moved Valmont from being a supplier of communication poles to a broad service provider of towers, components, installation and maintenance for the wireless communication industry. 1993 Mogens Bay became chairman and CEO of Valmont and made it a priority to rationalize the company's portfolio and industry leadership—divesting it of any businesses not tightly aligned with Valmont’s core strengths in infrastructure and agriculture, and concertedly investing in those strengths through global expansion. 1994 Valmont acquired a manufacturer of utility poles—Energy Steel Corporation—signifying the company’s entrance into the utility market. Late 1990s A series of acquisitions in Europe and expansion of facilities in China, plus entrance into South America in 1997, South Africa in 1999 and the Middle East soon thereafter, greatly enhanced Valmont’s international presence. 2004 Acquisition of Newmark International, a manufacturer of concrete poles, led to the formation of the Valmont Utility Segment and strategic integration of Newmark management. 2010 The Delta, plc acquisition in the Asia Pacific market brought access systems—engineered grating products designed to enhance worker safety in industrial facilities—to the Valmont family of products. This nearly doubled Valmont’s number of global galvanizing facilities and led to establishment of a regional headquarters in Australia. 2012 A new Valmont plant opened in India, further responding to global demand for quality infrastructure. 2013 Valmont acquired the assets of Pure Metal Galvanizing of Ontario, Canada. Pure Metal operated five kettles out of three locations in Ontario. Valmont also acquired privately-held Locker Group Holdings Pty Ltd., a market leader in Australia and Asia, for the manufacturing of perforated and expanded metal for the non-residential market, industrial flooring and handrails for the access systems market, and screening media for applications in the industrial and mining sectors. Locker Group has annual sales of approximately $80 million and operates five manufacturing locations across the region. 2014 Valmont acquired a manufacturer of heavy complex steel structures (Valmont SM) with two manufacturing locations in Denmark and Shakespeare Composite Structures, a manufacturer of fiberglass composite support structures with two manufacturing locations in South Carolina. In addition, Valmont acquires a majority interest in AgSense®, which provides farmers with remote monitoring equipment for their pivots and entire farming operation. 2017 Stephen Kaniewski was appointed president and CEO of Valmont Industries, Inc., making him the third CEO in the company’s history. Steve shares his predecessors’ vision and values that guide Valmont’s commitment to Conserving Resources and Improving Life®. 2018 Valmont elevates its commitment to corporate and social responsibility, executing recycling programs across all four business segments, assigning over 80 green teams around the world to implement energy-saving projects, and beginning LED implementation across North America sites. Valmont opens a concrete structures facility in Fort Meade, FL, to meet increasing demand to replace aging infrastructure. The company acquires Walpar and begins to offer overhead sign structures. Valmont Coatings expands its reach with the purchase of CSP Coatings in Auckland. The Valmont Coatings Connector launches. The majority ownership of Convert Italia adds single-axis solar trackers to its product mix. 2019 Sustainability projects within Valmont helped to conserve 0.5 MW of electricity, 1.4 million gallons of water, 2K gallons of liquid fuels, and 138 metric tons of waste. Combined, these sites avoided more 374 metric tons of carbon, while saving ~$142K (USD). Valmont acquires Connect-It Wireless. New products launch for Convert TRJ Single-Axis Tracker, small cell mounts and Valley Insights®. 2020 Valley® Irrigation signs an agreement with the Republic of Kazakhstan on a project to ensure efficient use of water sources, share advanced technologies with local farmers, and maximize yields for the country’s ag sector. Valmont is named Nebraska Manufacturer of the year. Valmont begins the process of replacing 100 fossil fuel-powered vehicles with electric equivalents at its Valley Campus, reducing this site’s CO2 emissions by 131 metric tons annually. Valmont acquires a majority stake in Kansas City Utility Packaging. Valley 365® launches, providing growers the ability to access existing Valley Irrigation technology in one platform and more efficiently manage crops. Majority ownership of Solbras leads to formation of Valmont Solar Solutions™. The acquisition of PrecisionKing means Valley Irrigation can offer remote monitoring and control for flood irrigation. 2021 Valmont celebrates its 75th Anniversary of “Conserving Resources. Improving Life.” around the world. The National Safety Council awards the Valley campus the Nebraska’s Safest Company Award 2021. Valmont has received this award 40 times in its history. Valmont launches the largest private company-owned solar field in Nebraska, using Valmont Solar Tracker technology to provide 6% of its flagship campus’ electricity needs. Valmont acquires Prospera, establishing the largest global, vertically-integrated AI company in agriculture. 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