Our Company
Our Company
Our Company
At Papé, our roots reach back to 1938 when our founder, E.C. Papé, acquired his first capital equipment dealership in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. E.C Papé’s reputation for customer service and dependability spread, and the family-owned business began to grow and prosper.
Four generations later, Papé has become the leading supplier of construction, logging, material handling, landscaping, trenching, and farm equipment, as well as semi-trucks and warehouse products in the West. We make good on our commitment to increasing our partners’ uptime by providing them with end-to-end solutions. Whether you lead a major construction firm or a single-family farm, we care about your success and are here to help you get all the equipment you need in one place to grow and meet your goals.Learn more
Papé Company Timeline
The Beginning
Papé’s legacy began in Oregon’s Willamette Valley in 1938, when our founder, E.C. Papé, arrived in Oregon to work alongside his friend at an Allis-Chalmers equipment dealership. Soon after, E.C. purchased his first company and word began to spread. The rest is history.
1938 E. C. Papé Starts His Company
E. C. Papé acquires Slate Tractor, an Allis Chalmers Dealership, and starts his own company on the guiding principle of providing consistent, quality customer service.
1945 The Next Generation
E.C. Papé passes away in January of 1945. His wife, Hazel, runs the dealership until her sons, Dean and Ed, return from the European theatre in October 1945. Dean and Ed take over leadership of the operations while Hazel remains an active member of the Board into her 90s.
1952 Papé Expands in Oregon
Dean and his brother, Ed, expand the dealership to support their customers in Roseburg and Coos Bay, Oregon. They rename the company Papé Bros Inc.
1956 PAPÉ ACQUIRES CATERPILLAR
Dean and Ed purchase the Caterpillar dealership, which spans the same footprint as their Allis Chalmers dealership. They eventually sell the Allis Chalmers dealership to Timber Tractor in Springfield, Oregon.
A New Era
E.C. Papé’s sons, Dean and Ed, fostered a new era for the Papé company with increased innovation, expansion, and equipment offerings, marking the beginning of the company’s growth throughout the West.
1965 DEAN & ED PAPÉ INTRODUCE A NEW ERA
After WWII, Dean and Ed Papé introduce the era of the rubber-tired skidder to the Northwest timber industry from 1965–1969.
1969 Papé Expands in Eastern Oregon
Dean Papé purchases Crater Lake Machinery, expanding the Papé dealership East to Redmond, Medford, and Klamath Falls.
1970s Papé Designs and Modifies Three Machines for the Logging Industry
In the mid-1970s, Papé modifies a Caterpillar 235 Excavator into the very first Caterpillar Log Loader.
In the late-1970s, Papé converts a Caterpillar 988B into the first single-pass CAT Wheel Log Loader.
In 1978, Papé modifies a Caterpillar 245 Excavator, capable of forwarding whole trees. This development creates an entirely new method of logging in the Cascades, now known as Shovel Logging.
The New Generation
In the 1980s, the third generation of the Papé family took the reins, instating Randy Papé as CEO in 1981. This era in our company’s history saw the formation of the Papé Group, a family of companies that continues to grow strong today.
1981 The Third Generation
Randy Papé, Dean’s son, becomes Papé’s President. Randy is the third generation of Papé operators.
1986 Papé’s Continued Expansion Through Flightcraft
Papé expands its business through the purchase of Flightcraft, a full service FBO and Beechcraft dealer.
1990 The Papé Group Is Formed
The Papé Group of Companies is formed as Papé prepares to purchase the Hyster® Dealerships in Oregon and Washington.
1990s Hyster® Sales Company Is Formed
Papé includes Hyster® in the company’s offerings, expanding into larger metropolitan areas by acquiring the Hyster® forklift dealerships in Oregon and Washington.
In 1991, new Hyster® dealerships are purchased, covering territory between Northern California and Bakersfield.
In 2004, this company is renamed as Papé Material Handling.
1998 Papé Wins Award for Highest Market Share
Papé CAT wins the award for the highest market share in North America.
Expansion
The 2000s marked a period of rapid growth for the Papé Group, including the formation of Papé Machinery and Papé Kenworth, the expansion of the company’s footprint, and Papé’s dedication to providing end-to-end solutions to customers throughout the West.
2000 Ditch Witch Northwest Is Formed
Ditch Witch Northwest is formed to meet the continuing needs of the directional drilling and trenching market. Later in 2018, the company is renamed to Ditch Witch West.
2002-03 Papé Machinery Is Formed
Papé Machinery is formed, acquiring the Oregon and Western Washington dealerships for John Deere Construction and Forestry equipment.
In 2003, Papé sells its Caterpillar franchise back to Caterpillar.
2005 Papé Machinery Expands Its Service Area
Papé obtains John Deere Construction and Forestry dealerships in Northern California.
2007 Papé Kenworth Is Formed
Papé acquires Central California Kenworth and Roberts Motors, combining Oregon and California dealerships into one company thus obtaining its first Kenworth dealership and entering into the heavy-haul trucking industry.
2007 Engineered Products, a Papé Company, Is Formed
Engineered Products becomes a Papé company, offering full-service warehouse solutions and optimization alongside our Hyster® forklift offerings.
Present
Today, Papé is more committed than ever to its foundational promise–to serve the West’s industries with consistent, quality customer service. Each new expansion, acquisition, and equipment line is an effort to deliver on that promise for our loyal customers.
2011 Papé Machinery Agriculture & Turf Is Formed
Papé makes the natural progression to serve farmers and ranchers with the new Papé Machinery Agriculture & Turf division, offering John Deere agriculture and turf equipment sales and support.
2018 Papé Kenworth Northwest & Papé Kenworth Alaska Are Formed
Papé Kenworth expands its area of coverage and forms Papé Kenworth Northwest and Papé Kenworth Alaska.
2018 Papé Celebrates 80 Years
Papé celebrates its 80th anniversary and its enduring commitment to consistent, quality customer service.
2018 Papé Acquires Mid-pacific Industries
Papé Material Handling acquires Mid-Pacific Industries, becoming an Ottawa dealer in Northern and Central California.
2019 Papé Material Handling Acquires Yale® Chase
Papé Material Handling adds the assets of Yale® Chase Equipment and Services, Inc. to its growing organization, proudly becoming an authorized dealer for Yale® products and expanding its physical footprint to Southern California and Hawaii.
2020 Papé Machinery Agriculture & Turf Acquires Washington Tractor
Papé Machinery Agriculture & Turf acquires Washington Tractor, an organization with 12 John Deere Dealerships. With this acquisition, Papé Machinery Agriculture & Turf grows to 35 locations throughout the Northwest.
The Beginning
Papé’s legacy began in Oregon’s Willamette Valley in 1938, when our founder, E.C. Papé, arrived in Oregon to work alongside his friend at an Allis-Chalmers equipment dealership. Soon after, E.C. purchased his first company and word began to spread. The rest is history.
1938 E. C. Papé Starts His Company
E. C. Papé acquires Slate Tractor, an Allis Chalmers Dealership, and starts his own company on the guiding principle of providing consistent, quality customer service.
1945 The Next Generation
E.C. Papé passes away in January of 1945. His wife, Hazel, runs the dealership until her sons, Dean and Ed, return from the European theatre in October 1945. Dean and Ed take over leadership of the operations while Hazel remains an active member of the Board into her 90s.
1952 Papé Expands in Oregon
Dean and his brother, Ed, expand the dealership to support their customers in Roseburg and Coos Bay, Oregon. They rename the company Papé Bros Inc.
1956 PAPÉ ACQUIRES CATERPILLAR
Dean and Ed purchase the Caterpillar dealership, which spans the same footprint as their Allis Chalmers dealership. They eventually sell the Allis Chalmers dealership to Timber Tractor in Springfield, Oregon.
A New Era
E.C. Papé’s sons, Dean and Ed, fostered a new era for the Papé company with increased innovation, expansion, and equipment offerings, marking the beginning of the company’s growth throughout the West.
1965 DEAN & ED PAPÉ INTRODUCE A NEW ERA
After WWII, Dean and Ed Papé introduce the era of the rubber-tired skidder to the Northwest timber industry from 1965–1969.
1969 Papé Expands in Eastern Oregon
Dean Papé purchases Crater Lake Machinery, expanding the Papé dealership East to Redmond, Medford, and Klamath Falls.
1970s Papé Designs and Modifies Three Machines for the Logging Industry
In the mid-1970s, Papé modifies a Caterpillar 235 Excavator into the very first Caterpillar Log Loader.
In the late-1970s, Papé converts a Caterpillar 988B into the first single-pass CAT Wheel Log Loader.
In 1978, Papé modifies a Caterpillar 245 Excavator, capable of forwarding whole trees. This development creates an entirely new method of logging in the Cascades, now known as Shovel Logging.
The New Generation
In the 1980s, the third generation of the Papé family took the reins, instating Randy Papé as CEO in 1981. This era in our company’s history saw the formation of the Papé Group, a family of companies that continues to grow strong today.
1981 The Third Generation
Randy Papé, Dean’s son, becomes Papé’s President. Randy is the third generation of Papé operators.
1986 Papé’s Continued Expansion Through Flightcraft
Papé expands its business through the purchase of Flightcraft, a full service FBO and Beechcraft dealer.
1990 The Papé Group Is Formed
The Papé Group of Companies is formed as Papé prepares to purchase the Hyster® Dealerships in Oregon and Washington.
1990s Hyster® Sales Company Is Formed
Papé includes Hyster® in the company’s offerings, expanding into larger metropolitan areas by acquiring the Hyster® forklift dealerships in Oregon and Washington.
In 1991, new Hyster® dealerships are purchased, covering territory between Northern California and Bakersfield.
In 2004, this company is renamed as Papé Material Handling.
1998 Papé Wins Award for Highest Market Share
Papé CAT wins the award for the highest market share in North America.
Expansion
The 2000s marked a period of rapid growth for the Papé Group, including the formation of Papé Machinery and Papé Kenworth, the expansion of the company’s footprint, and Papé’s dedication to providing end-to-end solutions to customers throughout the West.
2000 Ditch Witch Northwest Is Formed
Ditch Witch Northwest is formed to meet the continuing needs of the directional drilling and trenching market. Later in 2018, the company is renamed to Ditch Witch West.
2002-03 Papé Machinery Is Formed
Papé Machinery is formed, acquiring the Oregon and Western Washington dealerships for John Deere Construction and Forestry equipment.
In 2003, Papé sells its Caterpillar franchise back to Caterpillar.
2005 Papé Machinery Expands Its Service Area
Papé obtains John Deere Construction and Forestry dealerships in Northern California.
2007 Papé Kenworth Is Formed
Papé acquires Central California Kenworth and Roberts Motors, combining Oregon and California dealerships into one company thus obtaining its first Kenworth dealership and entering into the heavy-haul trucking industry.
2007 Engineered Products, a Papé Company, Is Formed
Engineered Products becomes a Papé company, offering full-service warehouse solutions and optimization alongside our Hyster® forklift offerings.
Present
Today, Papé is more committed than ever to its foundational promise–to serve the West’s industries with consistent, quality customer service. Each new expansion, acquisition, and equipment line is an effort to deliver on that promise for our loyal customers.
2011 Papé Machinery Agriculture & Turf Is Formed
Papé makes the natural progression to serve farmers and ranchers with the new Papé Machinery Agriculture & Turf division, offering John Deere agriculture and turf equipment sales and support.
2018 Papé Kenworth Northwest & Papé Kenworth Alaska Are Formed
Papé Kenworth expands its area of coverage and forms Papé Kenworth Northwest and Papé Kenworth Alaska.
2018 Papé Celebrates 80 Years
Papé celebrates its 80th anniversary and its enduring commitment to consistent, quality customer service.
2018 Papé Acquires Mid-pacific Industries
Papé Material Handling acquires Mid-Pacific Industries, becoming an Ottawa dealer in Northern and Central California.
2019 Papé Material Handling Acquires Yale® Chase
Papé Material Handling adds the assets of Yale® Chase Equipment and Services, Inc. to its growing organization, proudly becoming an authorized dealer for Yale® products and expanding its physical footprint to Southern California and Hawaii.
2020 Papé Machinery Agriculture & Turf Acquires Washington Tractor
Papé Machinery Agriculture & Turf acquires Washington Tractor, an organization with 12 John Deere Dealerships. With this acquisition, Papé Machinery Agriculture & Turf grows to 35 locations throughout the Northwest.
End-to-End Solutions
At Papé, we work across industries to bring you equipment, service, and solutions that maximize your uptime. Whether it’s agriculture, forestry, construction, or material handling, Papé is there for your business at every step in the supply chain. From field to factory and across the highways of the West, Papé provides end-to-end solutions that keep your business–and our region’s industries–thriving.
Keeps You Moving®
When you partner with Papé, you’re not just optimizing your equipment–you’re getting a team of dedicated service technicians on your side. Downtime can happen at any time, which is why our techs are always a phone call away, ready to meet you where you are with the parts and repairs that will get you running again. When end-to-end solutions are backed by excellent equipment and consistent, quality customer service, there’s no limit to what you can get done.
