Terex

Terex Corporation is an American manufacturer of a broad range of heavy equipment for a variety of industries, including construction, infrastructure, quarrying, recycling, surface mining, shipping, transportation, refining, utility and maintenance. The company's major business segments include aerial work platforms, construction cranes, materials processing and mining, and roadbuilding and utility products. Terex has more than 15,900 employees and operates 50 manufacturing facilities in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Terex sells its products in more than 170 countries.

Corporate history

General Motors

The Terex name has its origins as a division of General Motors. Due to a 1968 Justice Department ruling, General Motors was required to stop manufacturing and selling off-highway trucks in the United States for four years and divest the Euclid brand name. GM coined the "Terex" name in 1968 from the Latin words "terra" (earth) and "rex" (king) for its construction equipment products and trucks not covered by the ruling.

Terex 33-19 "Titan"

The Terex 33-19 "Titan" was a prototype off-highway, ultra class, rigid frame, three-axle, diesel/AC electric powertrain haul truck designed by the Terex Division of General Motors and assembled at General Motors Diesel Division's London, ON, Canada assembly plant in 1973. Only one 33-19 was ever produced and it was the largest, highest capacity haul truck in the world for 25 years. After 13 years in service, the 33-19 was restored and is now preserved on static display as a tourist attraction in Sparwood, BC, Canada.

Development and production

General Motors developed the Titan in response to the need for more efficient haul trucks by open pit mine operators. GM believed that a general decrease in mineral ore quality combined with a projected need to mine tar shale and tar sands would increase the quantity of ore hauled by surface mine operators' trucks, worldwide. The Titan was the largest in the Terex 33 series of off-road haul trucks, which also included the 33-03, 33-05, 33-07, 33-09, 33-11 and the 33-15. The 33-19 "Titan" and the 33-15 both used diesel/AC electric powertrains, while the other, smaller members of the 33 series of haul trucks used mechanical powertrains.