What started over 67 years ago in J.D. Harvey’s garage in southeast Georgia has grown to encompass 12 buildings, covering over 750,000 square feet in 11 different locations. Today, Rotary’s 500+ employees work with pride to provide the highest quality products available any where, backed with superior customer service that is second to none! Rotary now distributes parts, tools and accessories to customers in all 50 states and 75 countries throughout Europe, Asia, South America, Canada, Australia and Africa.
Its long-standing relationships with these customers are the foundation of Rotary’s renowned tradition of excellence, a tradition that started when J.D. “Georgia Boy” began selling replacement parts to auto parts stores and lawn mower dealers in the 1950s – literally from the trunk of his car. What an incredible story of growth! By 1960, Mr. Harvey had moved his business, then called “Rotary Mower Parts,” from his garage into a nearby rented storehouse.
In 1964, he moved the business to a larger local warehouse. With excellent sales ability, Mr. Harvey got his fledgling company off to a phenomenal start. However, declining health “nudged” him to sell the company to his nephew, Bill Nelson, in 1966.
Mr. Nelson became a pioneer in the outdoor power equipment industry with his vision, integrity and commitment to quality and service. A savvy businessman, Mr. Nelson guided Rotary from a regional U.S. company to a major national and international corporation. He passed away in 1999, leaving a legacy that spanned nearly four decades of service to the outdoor power equipment industry. His son, Ed, continues the Rotary tradition today as president and CEO of the U.S.- based, family-owned company.
The Rotary World Headquarters is located in Glennville, Georgia USA they have manufacturing facilities in- Glennville, GA, Reidsville, GA and in Phoenix, AZ
The Rotary U.S. Distribution Centers are in Glennville, GA, Evansville, IN, Richmond, VA, Albany, NY, Columbus, OH, Dallas, TX and Fresno, CA.
The Rotary International Distribution Center is located in Hornbach, Germany and from there, 75 countries worldwide are serviced.
Rotary manufactures lawn mower and edger blades, trimmer line and air filters. Over 12 million blades are made annually and certified under the ISO 9000 Worldwide Quality Standard.
Approximately 10,000 different parts, tools and accessories for outdoor power equipment are distributed by Rotary, from commercial strength mower and edger blades to heavy duty belts, trimmer line, chain saw parts, filters, tune-up kits and carburetors.
Rotary is proud to provide next day delivery to 85% of the continental U.S.
Rotary Corporate Timeline:
1957 Parts distribution company opened by J.D. Harvey in Glennville, GA.
1966 Bill Nelson purchases Rotary Mower Parts & Manufacturing Co. from J.D. Harvey.
1969 First warehouse constructed on site of a former drive-in movie theater near Glennville.
1972 Rotary ships first export order to Europe.
1974 Company begins manufacture of foam air filters. Arrow Sales distributorship is purchased, providing Rotary with its first warehouse operation in California.
1975 J.D. Harvey passes away.
1981 Rotary completes purchase of Lawn Mower Parts Company.
1984 Rotary opens new distribution warehouse in Dallas, TX.
1986 Rotary opens distribution warehouse in Columbus, OH.
1991 Dorcy Lawn Mower Parts purchased by Rotary and moved to Glennville.
1992 International Division opened in Wavre, Belgium.
1994 New distribution warehouse opened in Albany, NY.
1994 Rotary’s blade manufacturing facility becomes the first of its type in the world to receive certification under the ISO 9000 Quality Standard.
1997 Bill Nelson named chairman of the board and Ed Nelson elected president / CEO.
1999 Bill Nelson passes away.
2001 Distribution warehouse opened in Richmond, VA.
2007 Wastewater treatment facility installed at blade manufacturing facility.
2010 Distribution center opened in Largo, FL.
2011 Distribution facility opened in Evansville, IN.
2014 Rotary’s blade manufacturing division produces its 200 millionth blade.
2014 Purchased the manufacturing assets of Parker Filter Company.
2015 Major expansion of shipping and fulfillment operations in Glennville.
2017 Acquired Desert Extrusion, a leading trimmer line manufacturer in Phoenix, AZ.
2017 Opened new filter manufacturing division in Reidsville, GA.
2018 Reached another milestone with next day delivery to nearly 85% of customers in the continental U.S. with same day shipping for most orders received by 4 p.m. EST.
2020 Marked manufacturing milestone with production of Rotary’s 250 millionth mower blade at its world class facility in Glennville, GA.
2020 Relocated Texas Distribution Center from Mesquite to 100,000 sf facility in Dallas.
2020 Established new International Headquarters in Hornbach, Germany to better serve customers throughout Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa.
2021 Expanded Desert East trimmer line manufacturing in Glennville.
2022 Upgraded filter manufacturing with robotics and automated polyurethane line.