Our Legacy

Our current success is built on a firm foundation of knowledge that can only be achieved through a history of performance as FMC, FMC Technologies and now JBT.

1967 – FMC enters the material handling industry by acquiring Link-Belt Company, a Chicago based material handling equipmentmanufacturer with a manufacturing plant in Colmar, PA.

1981 – FMC designs and builds its first wire guided automated guided vehicle (AGV) for IBM Corporation.

1985 – FMC delivers several wire guided automated guided vehicle (AGV) systems supporting paper roll movement in the newspaper industry. The controls for these systems were integrated with the printing press controls.

1990 – FMC expands from the newspaper industry into several other key AGV vertical markets including hospitals, food, fast moving consumer goods, automotive, and manufacturing.

1995 – FMC acquires the SGV product line from Caterpillar. This acquisition includes CAT’s laser guidance technology and key resources dedicated to the SGV product line.

1998 – FMC aggressively invests in CAT’s laser guidance controls package, introducing single stripe reflective targets, a more robust laser unit, and SGV 2000 PC based vehicle and host controls

2000 – FMC introduces the software tool Layout Wizard to allow quick/easy road system design and modification.

2001 – FMC Technologies is formed when all equipment/machinery product lines split from FMC. The AGV product line becomes part of the new company FMC Technologies.

2006 – FMC Technologies installs its first AGV based automatic trailer loading system.

2006 – FMC Technologies installs first AGVs that rely on multiple forms of navigation on the same vehicle, switching seemlessly between them for optimum performance throughout the facility.

2008 – JBT is formed when other equipment/machinery product lines split from the energy (oil and natural gas) product lines of FMC Technologies.The AGV product line becomes part of the new company JBT.

2009 – JBT upgrades the user interface for SGV Manager with an intuitive, user-friendly, configurable 3D interface allowing personnel with minimal training to interface with the system.

2009 – JBT installs the first automated battery swapping system where AGVs automatically change each others batteries.

2009 – JBT installs first AGVs using natural environment navigation.

2011 – JBT launches the SGV 3000 vehicle control platform with integrated vehicle controller and graphical color touchscreen.

2011 – JBT expands the SGV Manager software platform, adding a warehouse control software (WCS) module for inventory tracking and control.

2015 – JBT introduces the JayBoT, the simple, affordable AGV solution for customers just starting automation or looking for small scale solutions.

2015 – JBT launches a global manufacturing strategy with production sites in North America, Europe and Asia to meet increased demand for AGV systems.

2015 – JBT introduces the CB Series of standard counterbalance, forked-masted AGV vehicle designs.

2016 – JBT launches the modular, expandable SGV 4000 vehicle control platform featuring standard, off the shelf components.

2016 – JBT expands its line of standard vehicles to include tugger or towing AGVs.

2017 – JBT introduces 3D camera technology to improve pallet detection.

2019 – JBT works with Hyster-Yale Group to develop a commercially-available, multi-mode double-deep pantograph reach truck, which operates in both manual and automatic mode. 

2019 – JBT works with Crown Equipment Company to develop their DualMode tow tractor, which operates in both manual and automatic mode.