MTI Equipment announced its 40th anniversary, commemorating four decades of service to the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) industry. From its founding in 1986 to its current position as a global leader in preowned HDD equipment, with more than 5,000 drills sold, MTI's journey is defined by innovation, resilience and a steadfast commitment to the contractors who power our infrastructure.
Full-Circle Evolution
MTI was founded by a utility contractor who recognized the impact of HDD equipment in its early days. He later brought in his son, Canon Stahl, and son-in-law, Shawn Hendricks, to help grow the business. Their success ultimately led to MTI's acquisition by Ditch Witch/Charles Machine Works in 2012.
In 2019, the organization completed a strategic re-acquisition from the Charles Machine Works/Toro family of companies, restoring MTI to its independent, family-owned roots. Since then, the company has continued to experience significant growth in personnel, facilities and industry expertise.
Team Strengthening
Following the re-acquisition in 2019, the leadership team — Shawn Hendricks, Canon Stahl and Alain Trimble — strengthened the company's competitive position by partnering with Mike Lauzon, a seasoned industry veteran and son of the founder of HDD Broker.
With his deep industry roots, Lauzon joined an ownership group with unmatched experience, relationships and technical expertise. The company also has continued to attract and develop talented professionals, building a team of nearly 50 employees.
Culture, Safety: Core of Success
Central to MTI's success is a dedication to safety and employee well-being. MTI has achieved a major internal milestone: more than 1,400 consecutive days without a lost-time injury. This achievement underscores the company's priority of making MTI one of the safest and most rewarding workplaces in the industry.
Message From Leadership
Alain Trimble, a key leader in the ownership group, reflected on the milestone:
"Reaching 40 years in business is an incredible milestone for our company," he said. "This achievement would not be possible without the trust of our customers, the collaboration of our partners and most importantly the dedication of our employees. Their hard work, commitment, and pride in what we do every day are the true foundation of our success. Because of them, we are able to consistently provide what we believe is the best preowned HDD equipment and, as we say, ‘Take the Risk Out of Buying Used.' We are grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey and look forward to continuing to serve our customers for many years to come."
Looking Ahead: 2026, Beyond
As MTI moves forward into its fifth decade, the company remains focused on growth and customer value. To kick off the celebration, MTI will roll out a series of promotions throughout 2026, with details to be announced in the coming weeks.
About MTI Equipment
Headquartered in North Port, Fla., MTI Equipment is a global distributor of preowned HDD equipment. Operating from a 40,000-sq.-ft. facility on 13 acres, and serving customers in more than 40 countries, MTI is dedicated to providing superior equipment, industry-leading certified preowned standards and support for the HDD and utility construction sectors.
For more information, visit mtiequip.com.
