Dowty Mining Equipment

In 1948, Dowty decided to market a newly developed product - the hydraulic pit prop. Early design prototypes had been tested in 1945, when it was felt desirable to develop new industrial applications of hydraulics.

Initially, the production of mining props was being carried out by Dowty Auto Units but in 1954 Dowty Mining Equipment was created.

In 1956 Dowty Mining Equipment opened a new factory at Ashchurch, Nr. Tewkesbury and by 1957, the millionth hydraulic pit prop had been produced and in use all over the world.