50th Anniversary
special edition
magazine

History of NORTHWEST EXCAVATING

Situated in Northridge California, Northwest Excavating can trace it’s origin back to 1959 when Bob Groff founded the company under the name “Northwest Compaction.” With an eye towards the future, the company started out modestly, with two backhoes, an Arrow hammer, a skiploader and a Gradall.

During the first few years Northwest focused primarily on operated equipment rental to local grading and sewer contractors. The company prospered during the 1960’s due to the ever increasing construction needs throughout southern California. While maintaining a conservative approach towards growth, the company slowly added equipment to their fleet.

During the mid to late 1960’s, Bob Groff found himself splitting time between Northwest and Northridge Equipment Rentals, which he had established in1952, as a bare rental company. It was at this time that current co-owners Howard and Sue Groff bought the company while Bob began devoting himself full time to Northridge Equipment Rentals. During these first years Howard often worked as equipment operator, mechanic, lowbed driver, or anything else that needed to be done. Howard, much like his father before him, had undertaken a conservative management approach towards the company. During the late 1960’s and into the early 1970’s, the company grew at a steady pace.

As a result of the company’s experience early on working for underground sewer and dry utilities contractors, Northwest began their own underground dry utilities division for the complete installation of power and telephone construction. This division started out digging trenches, doing the backfill and then compaction by the foot for residential developers. Howard was doing all of the estimating and running most of the jobs.

In the mid 1970’s, needing to better reflect the company’s business, Northwest Compaction re-incorporated under the name Northwest Excavating. Throughout the 1970’s, the company continued to experience growth in both the operated equipment rental side and the underground utilities side of the business. With an expanding number of employees, Howard began devoting his time almost exclusively towards company management.

In the early 1980’s, Northwest had a fleet of about 15 to 20 late model pieces of equipment in their rental fleet. Constantly striving to provide their customers with the most productive equipment in the industry, the fleet is always in a state of update.

The underground utilities division was now specializing in complete installation of communication / electrical underground power, telephone and cable television conduit systems, as well as complete street lighting systems.

With the construction boom of the late 1980’s, Northwest was leading the way in the Southern California rental industry. Their fleet now included D8N dozers, 623E scrapers, and other large machines. With a total of between 20 to 25 pieces for rent, the company still maintained their commitment of productivity and customer satisfaction as the cornerstone of their business philosophy.

While many equipment rental and underground utilities companies were scaling back in the early 1990’s, Northwest was maintaining their usual steady aggressiveness. Armed with a strong customer base and a great reputation for the most productive equipment and the best employees in the industry, Northwest was able to stay ahead of its competition.

In order to provide customers with a wider variety of equipment for their needs, Northwest now has a Saw Cutting division. The saw trucks come fully equipped with state of the art instruments for all of your asphalt cutting, concrete cutting and core drilling needs.

With a current equipment fleet of approximately 60 late model machines for rent, including, D8T dozers, 143H blades, 623G scrapers, excavators, backhoes, rubber tire loaders, and water trucks. Northwest continues to strive for excellence. The current management team includes members whose commitment to the highest quality customer service and professionalism are consistent with those of Northwest from years past.

Northwest has come a long way since first opening their doors for business back in 1959. Throughout the years the company has enjoyed long standing relationships with many of their customers. Northwest takes tremendous pride in the forging of these relationships. These relationships and partnerships are what set Northwest apart from their competitors. As the years continue, Northwest will continue to provide their customers with the latest, most productive equipment and the best employees in the industry. This is the philosophy the company was founded under, and this is the philosophy that will guide Northwest Excavating into the future.