AEM Seeks Family Inductees

With Father’s Day coming up quickly, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Hall of Fame wants to recognize the families inducted, either together, or over generations. The AEM Hall of Fame is accepting 2022 nominations until June 17.

With Father’s Day coming up quickly, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Hall of Fame wants to recognize the families inducted, either together, or over generations. The AEM Hall of Fame is accepting 2022 nominations until June 17.
With Father’s Day coming up quickly, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Hall of Fame wants to recognize the families inducted, either together, or over generations. The AEM Hall of Fame is accepting 2022 nominations until June 17.
Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM)

Spread the word, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is looking for manufacturing families to induct into its Hall of Fame. Nominations are due June 17 and can be submitted here. Many of the companies honored in the past are well-known construction equipment manufacturers. 

Several family-owned manufacturing companies have multiple family members who have been recognized by AEM over the years, the organization said. One example is the Vermeer Corp. of Pella, Iowa, which has seen family members founder Gary Vermeer inducted in 1996, followed by Robert Vermeer in 2016 and Mary Andringa in 2019. 

“With 66 individual members, it amazes me that there are eight different families with multiple members in the AEM Hall of Fame,” said AEM President Megan Tanel. “Including the first father-son-daughter combination to be inducted, in Gary and Robert Vermeer and Mary Andringa of Vermeer. I look forward to incorporating new families of all kinds into the Hall of Fame this year and in the future.”

The Ferwerda Brothers Ray and Koop were inducted together in 2020 for inventing the Gradall hydraulic excavator and the earliest family inductees were father Harry H. Barber (1993) and son H. Ashley “Ash” Barber (1994), the former for inventing the asphalt paving machine and co-founding of the Barber-Greene Company, and the latter for his leadership as CEO of the same company. Others include father John Steiger and sons Maurice Douglass for the Steiger Tractor Co., which is now a part of Case. Joseph Cyril "J.C." Bamford, and son Lord Anthony Bamford were inducted for JCB's accomplishments. Another family is Cyril and Louis Keller for their work with Bobcat and its invention of skid steer loaders, which were originally manufactured by the Melroe family, who were also honored. 

Tips for how to submit a nomination with a better chance of success are available here.

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