Miller Industries
| File:Miller Industries logo.jpg | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| NYSE: MLR | |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1990 |
| Founder | William G. Miller (Chairman) |
| Headquarters | Ooltewah, Tennessee, |
Area served | Global |
Key people | William G. Miller II (President/Co-CEO) Jeffrey I. Badgley (Co-CEO) |
| Products |
|
| Brands | Brands
|
| Subsidiaries | Miller Industries Towing Equipment, Inc. |
| Website | www |
Miller Industries is a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in tow trucks and related towing apparatus, with its headquarters situated in Ooltewah, Tennessee. The company’s main subsidiary, Miller Industries Towing Equipment Inc., produces a range of equipment including light through heavy-duty wreckers, car carriers, and rotators marketed under multiple brand names such as Century, Vulcan, Chevron, and Holmes. Its international operations include the Boniface brand in the United Kingdom and Jige in France. Miller Industries is publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol MLR.
History
Established in 1990 by William G. Miller in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Miller Industries originated through the acquisition of three struggling manufacturers: Holmes, Century, and Challenger. Additional early acquisitions included Champion and Eagle. The company went public in August 1994 with an initial public offering that raised $22.4 million, commencing trading on the NYSE at a split-adjusted share price of $7. By 1996, Miller Industries had minimized its debt substantially.
That same year marked the company’s entry into international markets with the purchase of Boniface Engineering in the U.K. and Jige International in France. Domestically, it acquired Vulcan International located in Mississippi and established a manufacturing site in Hermitage, Pennsylvania. At that time, the corporate headquarters were based in Atlanta, Georgia.
In 1997, a new manufacturing facility was launched in Greeneville, Tennessee to support Vulcan product lines. Jeffrey I. Badgley was appointed President and sole CEO while William G. Miller continued as Chairman; Miller later resumed co-CEO responsibilities alongside Badgley in 2003. That year also saw the acquisition of Chevron Inc., a tow truck manufacturer based in Pennsylvania. From the late 1990s until 2014, Miller Industries maintained its role as the official supplier of wreckers for NASCAR events, strengthening its position within the market.
The Ooltewah manufacturing plant underwent expansion in 2006, and at the 2009 Daytona 500, the company introduced a hybrid recovery vehicle reflecting its commitment to innovation. William G. Miller II joined as President in 2011 and assumed co-CEO duties with Badgley two years later.
Between 2015 and 2018, Miller Industries invested significantly in enlarging and upgrading facilities located in Hermitage (PA), Greeneville (TN), and Ooltewah (TN), enhancing production capabilities to accommodate business growth. In October 2019, it unveiled the industry’s first rolling rotator capable of a 100-ton recovery capacity, underscoring its ongoing leadership in heavy-duty towing equipment development.
Products and brands
Miller Industries produces and markets an extensive variety of wreckers, car carriers, and rotators through several distinct brands. These brands primarily function under its principal division, Miller Industries Towing Equipment, Inc., recognized as the largest global manufacturer specializing in towing and recovery machinery.
Among Miller's prominent brands are:
Holmes
The Holmes brand traces its origins to 1916 when Ernest Holmes, the creator of the initial tow truck in Chattanooga, established it. As a pioneer in the sector, Holmes became a foundational acquisition for William G. Miller during the formation of Miller Industries in 1990.
Century
Century Wrecker Corp., launched in 1974 by Jerry Holmes—grandson of Ernest Holmes—was instrumental in introducing hydraulic towing technology on wreckers, a feature now widely adopted. William G. Miller acquired Century in 1990, and it currently serves as Miller Industries' leading brand, offering a comprehensive range of light through heavy-duty wreckers and car carriers.
Other brands
Miller Industries' portfolio also includes Vulcan, Chevron, Boniface, and Jige. Vulcan International, headquartered in Olive Branch, Mississippi, became part of Miller in 1996. Chevron Inc., previously an independent company based in Mercer, Pennsylvania, was integrated into Miller's operations in 1997.
Boniface Engineering, established in 1982 in Thetford, Norfolk, England, was acquired the same year as Vulcan and functions as a key European brand with distribution throughout Europe and parts of Asia. Jige International, founded in 1969 and located in Revigny-sur-Ornain, France, was also brought under Miller's umbrella in 1996 to bolster the company's international reach.