Carter Machinery

Carter Machinery, founded in Virginia in 1952, is a producer of lubricants for engines and other mechanical purposes. By the 1980s, it also became the largest dealer in Caterpillar equipment in the United States, and it was acquired by Caterpillar, Inc. in 1988. Carterpillar contended that the acquisition, breaking its tradition of having only independent dealerships, was necessary to protect its right to dictate who could sell and service their product in the state of Virginia. Carter was bought out by its management in 2011, again becoming an independent dealer for Caterpillar.