Dover
Product brand
UnclaimedJapanese brand, possibly food or daily goods.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Dover Corporation is an American diversified industrial manufacturer headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois. The company develops and produces specialized equipment, components, and engineered systems for industrial and commercial customers rather than selling primarily to consumers. Its activities have historically covered a wide range of end markets, including fluid handling, fueling and vehicle-service equipment, industrial automation, printing and identification, refrigeration, engineered products, energy infrastructure, and acoustical or electronic components. The company was formed in 1955 after New York stockbroker George L. Ohrstrom Sr. brought together four manufacturing businesses that he had acquired during the preceding decades. Fred D. Durham, who had previously led the C. Lee Cook Company, became Dover's first president. The original businesses included C. Lee Cook, a producer of seals and piston rings; Rotary Lift, an automotive-lift manufacturer; W. C. Norris, which made sucker rods for oil-well pumping; and Peerless, a space-heater business later divested in 1977. Dover opened its corporate offices in Washington, D.C., and listed its shares on the New York Stock Exchange in the same year. In its early decades, Dover expanded through a highly acquisitive operating model. The company built a substantial elevator business after separating Dover Elevator from Rotary Lift in 1955 and acquiring companies such as Shepard Warner Elevator, Acme Elevator, Elevator Service, Reddy Elevator, and Hunter-Hayes. Additional acquisitions made Dover one of the largest elevator companies in the United States. Dover sold the elevator division to Thyssen AG in 1999 for approximately $1.1 billion, enabling the corporation to concentrate on other industrial activities. Dover also diversified into fluid measurement, engineered components, aerospace controls, electronics, refrigeration, identification systems, and industrial automation. Important businesses connected with its development included OPW, DE-STA-CO, Dieterich Standard, Sargent Industries, K&L Microwave, Dielectric Laboratories, NURAD, Hillphoenix, Knowles, Markem-Imaje, and Dover's artificial-lift operations. The company has repeatedly reshaped its portfolio through acquisitions, divestitures, and spin-offs. Knowles was separated in 2014, Sargent Aerospace & Defense was sold in 2015, and a major portion of the energy segment was spun off as Apergy in 2018. Dover's modern structure is organized around specialized operating companies and businesses serving niche industrial markets. Its products can include pumps, valves, dispensing equipment, vehicle lifts, automation tooling, coding and marking systems, refrigeration equipment, compressors, heat-transfer systems, and other engineered components. The business model emphasizes application expertise, installed customer relationships, decentralized management, and recurring demand for replacement parts, service, and consumable products. The corporation has continued to use portfolio management as a central strategy. In 2024, it completed the sale of DESTACO to Stabilus and the sale of its Environmental Solutions Group to Terex. These transactions further concentrated Dover on selected industrial platforms and technologies. Richard J. Tobin has served as president and chief executive officer since 2018 and was appointed chairman of the board in 2024. Dover remains an active, publicly traded industrial conglomerate with operations and customers across multiple international markets.
History
Dover Corporation was established in 1955 by George L. Ohrstrom Sr., who recruited Fred D. Durham to manage a group of manufacturing companies acquired during the 1930s and 1940s. The initial portfolio consisted of C. Lee Cook, Rotary Lift, W. C. Norris, and Peerless. Durham became the first president, while Dover opened corporate offices in Washington, D.C., and listed its shares on the New York Stock Exchange. The elevator business became an important early growth platform. Dover Elevator was separated from Rotary Lift in 1955, and acquisitions including Shepard Warner Elevator, Acme Elevator, Elevator Service, Reddy Elevator, and Hunter-Hayes expanded the business. Further purchases during the 1960s and 1970s helped Dover become one of the leading elevator companies in the United States. The elevator division was sold to Thyssen AG in 1999 for approximately $1.1 billion, a transaction that allowed Dover to redirect capital toward other industrial sectors. Dover's diversification accelerated through acquisitions in fluid measurement, industrial components, automation, aerospace, electronics, refrigeration, and energy. Ohio Pattern Works & Foundry, later known as OPW, became a significant fluid-handling platform. Detroit Stamping Company, later DE-STA-CO, added clamping, gripping, transfer, and robotic tooling capabilities. Dieterich Standard strengthened liquid-measurement activities, while Sargent Industries expanded control products for aerospace and industrial markets. During the 1980s, Dover also acquired electronics businesses including K&L Microwave, Dielectric Laboratories, and NURAD. The company continued reorganizing its portfolio in the 1990s. DOVatron was spun off in 1993, while Phoenix Refrigeration Systems and Hill Refrigeration were combined into Hillphoenix. Dover acquired an interest in French printing-technology company Imaje in 1995, one of the company's largest acquisitions at that time. The acquisition of Markem in 2006 and the subsequent combination of the businesses created Markem-Imaje, a major platform for coding, marking, labeling, and product identification. Dover undertook extensive acquisition activity from the late 1990s into the early 2000s, followed by a more selective approach. In 2003, Ronald Hoffman became president and chief operating officer, and he became CEO in 2005. Robert Livingston became president and CEO in 2008. The corporate headquarters moved from New York City to the Chicago area in 2010. Between 2008 and 2012, Dover acquired numerous specialized businesses, including Inpro/Seal, KMC, Bearings Plus, Anthony International, and Sound Solutions. Knowles, acquired earlier for its hearing-aid and acoustical technologies, and Sound Solutions gave Dover greater scale in mobile-electronics components. Dover spun off Knowles in 2014. It sold Sargent Aerospace & Defense to RBC Bearings in 2015 and acquired Italian vehicle-service-equipment company Ravaglioli in 2016. In 2018, Richard J. Tobin became president and CEO, and Dover separated a major portion of its energy operations into Apergy. This marked another significant effort to concentrate Dover on selected industrial platforms. In the 2020s, the company continued portfolio simplification. Stabilus acquired DESTACO in 2024, and Terex acquired the Environmental Solutions Group later that year. Tobin was also appointed chairman in 2024. Dover remains a publicly traded, multinational industrial manufacturer organized around specialized operating companies and niche industrial technologies.
- 2024
DESTACO and Environmental Solutions Group are divested
[1]Stabilus acquired DESTACO and Terex acquired Environmental Solutions Group, continuing Dover's portfolio concentration strategy.
- 2018
Apergy is separated from Dover
[1]Dover spun off a substantial portion of its energy segment into Apergy, a standalone publicly traded company.
- 2014
Knowles is spun off
[1]Dover separated Knowles, its acoustical and hearing-technology business, as an independent public company.
- 2011
Sound Solutions is acquired
[1]The acquisition added dynamic speakers and receivers for mobile phones and other consumer electronics.
- 2010
Corporate headquarters move to the Chicago area
[1]Dover relocated its corporate headquarters from New York City to Downers Grove, Illinois.
- 2006
Markem is acquired
[1]The acquisition strengthened Dover's coding, marking, labeling, and traceability activities; the business was later combined with Imaje as Markem-Imaje.
- 1999
Elevator division is sold to Thyssen
[1]Dover exited the elevator business through a sale to Thyssen AG and redirected attention toward other industrial platforms.
- 1995
Dover acquires a major interest in Imaje
[1]The acquisition expanded Dover's presence in industrial printing and product-identification technology.
- 1993
DOVatron is spun off
[1]Dover separated DOVatron, a circuit-board assembly business whose activities had increasingly intersected with customers' competitive concerns.
- 1977
Gary Roubos becomes president
[1]Dieterich Standard executive Gary Roubos became president, later serving as chief executive officer.
Products and positioning
Dover positions itself as a diversified, application-focused industrial manufacturer serving specialized markets where reliability, engineering performance, regulatory compliance, and lifecycle support are important. Its portfolio combines equipment platforms with replacement parts, consumables, service, and customer-specific engineering.
Fluid handling and fueling equipment
OPW
OPW develops equipment used in the transfer, containment, and dispensing of fuels and other fluids. Its portfolio has included valves, nozzles, connectors, loading systems, and related components for service stations, terminals, commercial vehicles, and industrial facilities. The business is associated with Dover's long-standing presence in fluid-handling applications where leak prevention, safety, durability, and regulatory requirements are central.
Industrial coding and marking · 2007
Markem-Imaje
Markem-Imaje supplies industrial systems for printing codes, dates, batch information, barcodes, and other identification data on products and packaging. Its technologies support traceability and compliance across food, beverage, pharmaceutical, consumer-goods, and industrial manufacturing environments. The platform was created by combining Dover's Markem and Imaje businesses.
Commercial refrigeration · 1994
Hillphoenix
Hillphoenix provides refrigeration and food-equipment systems for supermarkets, food retailers, distribution facilities, and other commercial applications. Its offerings have included display cases, refrigeration systems, environmental controls, and related equipment designed to preserve products and improve energy and operating performance.
Industrial automation and workholding · 1962
DE-STA-CO
DE-STA-CO designs clamping, gripping, transferring, and robotic tooling systems used in automated manufacturing. Its products serve applications such as body-in-white assembly, metalworking, welding, material handling, and general industrial automation. Dover sold the business to Stabilus in 2024.
Automotive service equipment
Rotary vehicle lifts
Rotary develops lifts and related equipment for vehicle inspection, repair, maintenance, and service operations. The business traces its connection with Dover to the corporation's original portfolio and represents Dover's continuing exposure to automotive-service workshops and commercial vehicle maintenance.
Engineered bearings and rotating equipment
Waukesha Bearings
Waukesha Bearings supplies engineered bearing systems and related products for rotating machinery. Its applications span power generation, marine equipment, industrial machinery, compressors, and other demanding environments where load management, lubrication, reliability, and service life are important.
Brand decisions
2024
Divestiture of DESTACOM&ABackground
Dover continued simplifying its portfolio and reallocating attention toward businesses it regarded as core industrial platforms.
Action taken
DESTACO was sold to German industrial company Stabilus.
Aftermath
The divestiture removed Dover's automation and workholding business from its portfolio.
Transaction value. $680 million (2024)
2024
Divestiture of Environmental Solutions GroupM&ABackground
Dover pursued additional portfolio concentration through the sale of a business serving environmental and waste-management equipment markets.
Action taken
Environmental Solutions Group was sold to Terex.
Aftermath
The transaction further reduced the breadth of Dover's portfolio and reinforced its focus on selected industrial technologies.
Transaction value. $2 billion (2024)
2018
Separation of ApergyM&ABackground
Dover reviewed its energy portfolio and determined that a large group of upstream energy businesses could operate as a separate public company.
Action taken
Dover spun off a major portion of its Energy segment as Apergy.
Aftermath
The separation reduced Dover's direct exposure to upstream energy and sharpened its focus on selected industrial markets.
2014
Spin-off of KnowlesM&ABackground
Knowles had become a substantial acoustical and hearing-technology business within Dover, serving specialized electronics markets.
Action taken
Dover separated Knowles as an independent publicly traded company.
Aftermath
The spin-off allowed Knowles to operate as a focused acoustical-components company while Dover continued concentrating on industrial platforms.
1999
Sale of the elevator divisionM&ABackground
Dover had built a large elevator business through decades of acquisitions but chose to refocus its portfolio on other industrial activities.
Action taken
The elevator division was sold to Thyssen AG.
Aftermath
The transaction provided a major portfolio exit and helped Dover concentrate on diversified industrial equipment and components.
Sale value. Approximately $1.1 billion (1999)
Recent events
Reported
Dover completes acquisition of Leistung[4]
Dover announced that it completed its previously reported acquisition of Leistung Engineering Pvt. Ltd., which will become part of OPW Fluid Transfer Solutions within Dover's Clean Energy & Fueling segment.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Dover signs agreement to acquire Leistung Engineering for OPW[5]
Dover Corporation signed a definitive agreement to acquire Leistung Engineering Pvt. Ltd, an Ahmedabad, India-based maker of cryogenic valves for LNG and industrial gas applications. The business will become part of OPW Fluid Transfer Solutions within Dover's Clean Energy & Fuelling segment. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter; terms were not disclosed.
Reported
Dover completes acquisition of Cloeren[6]
Dover Corporation announced on August 12, 2026 that it completed its previously reported acquisition of Cloeren Incorporated, which will become part of the MAAG business unit within Dover's Pumps & Process Solutions segment.
Reported
Dover completes acquisition of LIQAL[7]
Dover announced that it completed its acquisition of LIQAL B.V., which became part of the Dover Fueling Solutions operating unit.
Reported
Dover agrees to sell Unified Brands to Electrolux Professional[8]
Dover announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Unified Brands business to Electrolux Professional AB for approximately $244 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments. The transaction was expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions.
Reported
Dover completes acquisition of CDS Visual[9]
Dover announced that it had completed its acquisition of CDS Visual, which will become an operating company within Dover's Engineered Products segment.
Reported
Dover acquires a minority interest in EdgePetrol[10]
Dover announced that it had acquired a minority interest in EdgePetrol. The transaction terms were not disclosed.
Reported
Dover and EdgePetrol enter commercial partnership[10]
Dover announced that it had entered into a commercial partnership agreement with EdgePetrol, enabling Dover Fueling Solutions to market EdgePetrol's software globally.
Reported
Dover completes acquisition of Innovative Control Systems[11]
Dover said it completed its acquisition of Innovative Control Systems, which became part of Dover's Fueling Solutions segment.
Reported
Dover completes acquisition of XanTec[12]
Dover announced that it had completed its acquisition of XanTec Steuerungs- und EDV-Technik GmbH, which became part of the Maag Group within Dover's Pumps & Process Solutions segment.
Sources17 sources
- 1Dover Corporationen.wikipedia.org
- 2Dover Corporation official websitedovercorporation.com
- 3Dover Corporation leadershipdovercorporation.com
- 4Dover 完成对 Leistung 的收购prnewswire.com
- 5都福签署协议收购Leistung Engineering并入OPWclimatecontrolnews.com.au
- 6都福完成对Cloeren的收购prnewswire.com
- 7Dover完成对LIQAL的收购prnewswire.com
- 8Dover同意将Unified Brands出售给Electrolux Professionalprnewswire.com
- 9Dover完成对CDS Visual的收购prnewswire.com
- 10Dover收购EdgePetrol少数股权prnewswire.com
- 11Dover完成对Innovative Control Systems的收购prnewswire.com
- 12Dover完成对XanTec的收购prnewswire.com
- 13Wilden宣布推出SafeGuard泵监测系统prnewswire.com
- 14Dover完成出售The AMS Group分支机构prnewswire.com
- 15Dover 发布 2019 年第四季度及全年业绩prnewswire.com
- 16Dover (NYSE:DOV) Announces FY 2026 Earnings Guidancetickerreport.com
- 17Dover Raises Full Year EPS Guidancefinanznachrichten.de
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