The PRO-DIG Story
The PRO-DIG Story began on the sandy beaches of Devon, England in the early 1970’s. As other kids would play in the sea or kick a football around with their friends and family, PRO-DIG founder Mike Charlton was busy digging large deep holes with a dollar spade and bucket set, invariably most of these holes would collapse or be washed away by the stinging cold English waters. Mike would strive each time to improve his design and methods, and thus this five year old kid began a lifetime fascination with digging. If he was not at the beach digging away on family vacations Mike could be found in his family garden reconstructing the flower beds and vegetable plot with his fleet of construction Tonka toys. (Much to the annoyance of his garden proud father Derek)
Roll forward forty years and Mike now heads up a multinational, multi-location Drilling Equipment and tooling manufacturer. PRO-DIG is known globally for its unique state of the art solution based equipment and being able to solve many of the issues drilling and piling contractors face on a day to day basis.
1998
PRO-Dig Europe Ltd founded in Corby, England as manufacturer of Planetary Gearbox’s for industrial Applications including Marine and construction.
2000
PRO-DIG Europe Acquires minority share in Asian Gearbox manufacturing facility employing 280 people.
2001 – 2006
PRO-DIG grows rapidly into a international manufacturer of Rotary Drive heads, markets are established throughout Europe, North America and Australia.
2007
PRO-DIG, LLC opens for business in North America, Located in 5000 Sq. Ft premises in Lawrence, KS
2009
Despite the backdrop of uncertain economic times PRO-DIG expands into a 10,000 Sq. Ft facility in Lawrence, KS. PRO-DIG build a unique state of the art test bench capable of dynamic load testing up to 190,000 Ft-Lbs of torque.
In June 2009 after several years of R & D the Intelli-Tork torque monitoring system is launched in North America. One customer hails the product as “A quantum leap for helical pile torque measurement and logging”. Nine Years later and the Intelli-Tork System is still the original number one market leader.
2013
PRO-DIG acquires the full share capital of Universal Augers Ltd (Formerly Pengo Europe Ltd). UA manufactures a full range of foundation tooling including augers and buckets. UA was founded by Nic Brooker who is an industry expert and veteran with forty years of experience in the design and manufacture of foundation tooling. Nic retains a significant equity base in PRO-DIG Europe and leads its continuous growth.
PRO-DIG Europe relocates to a new 22,000 Sq. Ft Facility located in Cambridge, England. PRO-DIG heavily invests in new state of the art manufacturing equipment including CNC machining centers and cutting edge plasma technology. PRO-DIG Europe is now recognized as the leading European manufacturer of drill tools.
In June 2013 PRO-DIG LLC acquires a ten acre site located in Elwood, KS. This site is the future home of a state of the art Drilling and foundation tooling manufacturing facility.
2014
In April 2014 PROD-DIG move into the new manufacturing facility in Elwood,KS. PRO-DIG is now able to manufacture a full line of planetary gearboxes, all gear shaping and CNC machining is produced in house, a large investment in plasma and welding equipment allows PRO-DIG to manufacture a full line of foundation tooling including augers and buckets.
Chris Gillibrand joins forces with PRO-DIG as a partner in a new company PRO-DIG G.I. (Ground Improvement). Chris has a long history of manufacturing expertise and was the former Director of a large pile contracting and manufacturing company located in the United Kingdom.
