Founded in 1947
Founded in 1947, West Salem Machinery Co. has a rich history rooted in the vision of Carl Gerlinger, Sr., who emigrated to Oregon in the early 20th century. A skilled machinist with expertise in steam power, Carl initially worked extensively with railroads and logging operations. Following an industrial accident in his mid-20s that cost him an arm, Carl shifted his focus to entrepreneurship. He launched several metal trade businesses across Oregon, with West Salem Machinery emerging as a key venture.
In the early 1960s, West Salem began producing waste wood chippers for the Pacific Northwest's sawmill industry. The company thrived through the 1960s and 1970s, expanding its product line to include chippers, vibrating conveyors, chip screens, disc screens, and bark hogs. However, the 1980s brought significant challenges as high interest rates and a housing market crash severely impacted the sawmill industry, halting new machinery sales.
Mark Lyman, Carl Gerlinger's great-grandson, joined the company in 1983 and spearheaded a diversification strategy that remains central to West Salem's success today. The company expanded its reach within the wood products industry, supplying equipment to particle board plants, medium-density fiberboard (MDF) plants, paper mills, and biomass power plants. This diversification included the development of shredders and hammermills for fine grinding, particularly for particle board and MDF production.
Innovation and Expansion
West Salem Machinery continues to evolve, producing rugged and reliable grinding, screening, and conveying equipment as individual components or as the core of a customized, fully engineered package. With the most extensive product line available, they deliver customized and integrated solutions for a wide range of needs.