WORLD NEWS
8
APRIL 2019
Founded on 4 November 1969 by L.B. ‘Phil’ Philippi (left) and LeRoy Hagenbuch, P.E.,
Philippi-Hagenbuch Inc. has grown to become a global leader in haul truck usage and
innovation.
Philippi-Hagenbuch Inc. (PHIL),
the Peoria, Illinois-based speciality
manufacturer of off-highway truck
enhancements, continues innovating in
their fifth decade.
Founded on 4 November 1969, PHIL’s
anniversary celebration is focused on
highlighting the family-owned company’s
innovations of the past, present, and
future.
“Our first innovation, the
Autogate Tailgate, was the world’s
first commercially available tailgate
engineered and manufactured for
off-highway haul trucks,” says Josh
Swank, vice-president of sales and
marketing for PHIL. “From our humble
beginnings in the basement of our
founder’s home to the present where
we’ve invented countless technologies
for the off-highway truck industry,
we’re proud to be known for our
engineering and innovation.”
Over the past 50 years, PHIL has
pioneered over one hundred domestic
and international patents and innovations
relating to off-highway truck bodies, on-
board weighing systems, and black-box
technology, as well as improvements
in the safety of haul trucks through
seat belt detection, water tank access,
distribution, and material confinement.
Patented innovations surrounding ejector
body and trailer technology, truck body
volumetric capacity technology, bottom
dump trailer technology, industrial
strength hook-trucks, and scissor
lifts, have assisted niche operations in
maximising their haulage efficiency while
minimising downtime.
PHIL helped their original client, a
Wisconsin rock quarry, achieve the rated
load of their haul trucks with the addition
of tailgates and sideboards. Just three
years after delivering their first product,
PHIL established its first international
distributor in Brisbane, Australia. From
there, PHIL grew into the mining and
power plant industries with truck bodies
and trailers. In the early 1980s, as New
York City was expanding their Fresh
Kills Landfill, PHIL innovated with high-
volume refuse bodies that helped the
city maximise their trucks’ capabilities
and haul their refuse as efficiently
as possible. Water Tanks — and the
inherent innovations PHIL developed
around them — were added to the
product line in the late 1990s, and
2000 ushered ejector body and trailer
technology into PHIL’s repertoire.
50 years of innovation
For five decades, PHIL’s patented innovations have assisted niche operations in
maximising their haulage efficiency and safety while minimising downtime.
“Over the past 50 years, the dedication
and forward-thinking of our associates
have led us to become a global leader
in haul truck usage and innovation,”
says Swank. “Everyone at PHIL
contributes to our family environment
with a willingness to do what’s right for
the client.”
Founded by L.B. ‘Phil’ Philippi and
LeRoy Hagenbuch, P.E., the father
and son-in-law team of sales and
engineering resulted in a combination
that worked well for the off-highway
industry. Unfortunately, L.B. passed
away in 1977. Remaining family owned
and operated, Philippi-Hagenbuch
is now led by L.B.’s granddaughter
(LeRoy’s daughter) Danette Swank.
LeRoy continues to thrive as PHIL’s
chief engineer. He oversees the
engineering department and R&D and
is excited to celebrate his 50th year of
doing what he loves best: learning and
inventing.
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