It was in February 1952, that Robert Hewitt founded Hewitt Equipment Limited. Originally, Hewitt started with approximately 40 employees operating from a parts and sales office in downtown Montreal, a service shop in Rosemont and a branch operation in Quebec City. It was in these conditions that the Company successfully completed its first major project, supplying and supporting the equipment to build the Q.N.S. & L. railroad from Sept-Îles to Schefferville. 

 

Over the years, Hewitt extended its branch network throughout Quebec and Western Labrador. Now with 14 branches, Hewitt puts its know-how and experience to good use, servicing businesses of all sizes from various industries. 

In 1995, Hewitt acquired Atlantic Tractors & Equipment Ltd which employs over 500 people and is the Caterpillar dealer for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Atlantic Tractors operates a network of 8 branches across the Maritimes. Its markets are very similar to those of Hewitt and the two Companies work in close collaboration on many fronts including, among others, marine engine installation.

In 2001, Hewitt launched Hewitt Material Handling Inc., a Cat lift truck dealer for most of Ontario. HMH now has four branches which employ over 200 employees and offer material handling and warehousing solutions.
 
With the opening of the first rental stores in 2000 and the creation in 2002 of its subsidiary Hewitt Rentals Inc., Hewitt adds another feather to its cap. Under The Cat Rental Store banner, Hewitt offers short-term rentals of a wide range of compact tools and equipment to answer business and general public daily needs. With over 100 employees and 25 stores throughout Quebec and the Maritimes, Hewitt Rentals Inc. is well-positioned to become the major player in the tool and equipment rental industry. 

In 2004, Hewitt acquired Montréal Hydraulique 04 Inc., a Jungheinrich lift truck dealer which, amongst other things, specializes in hydraulic and pneumatic component system sales and repairs in addition to cylinder manufacturing. Montréal Hydraulique is based in Saint-Hubert and employs approximately 30 people.
 
Hewitt Equipment Limited is therefore a large team which is present in Quebec and Western Labrador under four product divisions (Heavy Equipment, Material Handling, Energy and Engines, and Agricultural Equipment) and under four subsidiaries in Quebec, Ontario and the Atlantic provinces (Atlantic Tractors & Equipment Ltd., Hewitt Material Handling Inc., Hewitt Rentals Inc. and Montréal Hydraulique 04 Inc.) – a group that offers sales, service and equipment rental whose top priority is to give customers a Service par Excellence.