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SINCE 1965

SINCE 1965

SINCE 1965

Tommy Gate has built reliable liftgates for over 50 years.

Contribute to the Tommy Gate story by helping us build the best liftgates in the world. 

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Who We Are

At Tommy Gate, we believe in the power of career development and the transformative impact it can have on individuals and communities. As a trailblazing force in the industry, Tommy Gate is renowned for being one of the leading manufacturers of liftgates, setting new standards through innovative, high-quality solutions that enrich lives and help those we serve. 

 

Our company's foundation is built upon a culture of collaboration and respect, fostering an environment where ideas flourish and talents thrive. Together, we strive to create a place where each team member is inspired to aim high and turn hard work and drive into opportunities. 

 

As we continue to grow and expand as a company, we are actively seeking diverse and talented individuals who share our passion for excellence and want to be part of a journey that encourages personal and professional growth.

Our History

Woodbine Manufacturing Company was founded in 1965, in Woodbine, Iowa by Delbert “Bus” Brown. Working alone, Bus designed and constructed the original Tommy Gate Hydraulic Lift, which he named after his son.

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Early stories often recount Bus loading his pickup trailer with up to five liftgates at a time and driving off into the neighboring counties (where he would sell and install them himself), only to return once that trailer was empty.

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This was Woodbine Manufacturing Company in its earliest days: a grassroots liftgate manufacturer that was created to ease the work of the local farmers.

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Today, the Woodbine factory stands at over 200,000 square feet on the same piece of ground where every Tommy Gate liftgate has been manufactured and assembled for over 50 years. It is a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant that embraces a combination of modern technology fused with old-fashioned, hands-on welding and tooling.

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Very much alive and well in the twenty-first century, Tommy Gate liftgates are sold by over 1000 distributors in every corner of the world.

Woodbine Manufacturing Company is one-hundred percent family-owned and operated, and has been since its inception. The company takes great pleasure in the work ethic, history, and honored traditions of its employees and strives to continue providing jobs and opportunities to the community it calls home.

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It is a testament to the spirit of American manufacturing that Tommy Gate began with a single man, in a small, brick machine shop in rural Iowa.

OUR PURPOSE

"To Build the best liftgates in the world, all while enhancing the well-being of our local community, and fostering a workplace environment that allows employees to realize their utmost potential."

OUR CORE VALUES

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Make it Easy

  • Be available and collaborative - with each other and customers.

  • Communicate openly and directly.

  • Constructively confront and solve problems.

  • Ensure a safe, clean, and injury-free workplace

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Contribute to the Story

  • Respect and honor the wisdom that comes from experience.

  • Share and learn from our successes and mistakes.

  • Set challenging and competitive goals.

  • Embrace a growth mindset in everything we do

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Learn and Grow

  • Seek training and development opportunities.

  • Pay attention to details.

  • Embrace change and challenge the status quo.

  • Continuously learn, develop, and improve

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Do What's Right

  • Act with honesty, integrity, and professionalism.

  • Treat one another equally, with dignity, respect, and trust.

  • Manage performance fairly and firmly.

  • Do the right things right

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Load the Truck

  • Do what needs to be done, without hesitation.

  • Make and meet commitments.

  • Assume responsibility.

  • Contribute to the team.

Want to explore more career opportunities with Tommy Gate?

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