Donaldson Company Inc. is marking the 100th anniversary of its founding by ringing the New York Stock Exchange Closing Bell on Thursday, February 26, 2015. Bill Cook, Donaldson's Chairman, President and CEO, credits the company's first century of success to the generations of dedicated employees who have built upon the company founder's vision through their unwavering commitment to customers and continuous technical innovations.
In 1915, Frank Donaldson, Sr., invented the first effective air cleaner to protect his customer's farm tractor engine. Since then, the company's goal has been to be the technology leader in its markets and to use its innovative products to solve customers' air and liquid filtration challenges. Today, with over 1,600 active U.S. and international patents and sales in fiscal year 2014 of $2.5 billion, Donaldson is a global leader in filtration technology.
The company and its 12,800 employees will celebrate this 100th anniversary milestone throughout the year with a series of employee celebrations, community events, charitable donations, and the ringing of the Closing Bell.
Frank "Sandy" Donaldson III, grandson of the company's founder, will ring the NYSE Closing Bell. He will be joined by Cook; Tod Carpenter, Chief Operating Officer; and other Donaldson employees. "I am honored to have this opportunity to represent my Grandfather, my Dad, and the entire Donaldson family," says Mr. Donaldson. "The fact that the company has been so successful and has reached this hundred year milestone means so much to all of us."
Those who would like to join in this celebration can do so by watching the NYSE Closing Bell Ringing online at 3:59 p.m. ET or on the Donaldson investor relations site.