About

Since 1978, the UMC® team has consistently introduced groundbreaking solutions. Our journey has been remarkable, and as we forge ahead into the future, we remain committed to shaping the landscape of center pivot irrigation. Join us on this exciting journey.

1978

UMC was founded by William “Bill” Smith in Los Angeles, CA, with a focus on distributing gearboxes to US pivot OEMs.

1978-1979

UMC revolutionized the industry by introducing the first shock-attenuating driveline coupler that significantly extended gearbox life.

1983

UMC further strengthened its position as an industry leader by releasing the first helical center drive, the “Power Saver,” which reduced power consumption of center drive motors by approximately 50%.

1990s

UMC’s dedication to innovation and quality allowed the company to expand its product line, offering the most diverse powertrain product line in the industry.

1998

UMC upgraded its driveline coupler, significantly increasing its durability and torque capacity for improved performance and extended service life.

1999

UMC introduced the 740 Series gearboxes, which have remained the industry standard used by OEMs globally to this day.

2001

UMC introduced its patented TNT gearbox, which allowed for faster and easier towing of towable machines.

2003

UMC further improved gearbox life by introducing cartridge oil seals for its gearboxes.

2008

UMC introduced the “Spray Guard” for its Power Saver Center Drives, providing superior protection for the motor against spray from low drops.

2010

UMC extended gearbox life by releasing its advanced development high-torque gear material in select 740 series gearboxes.

2011

UMC introduced its CX Coupler, a patented, pre-assembled, one-size-fits-all coupler design featuring one-wrench installation.

2013

UMC opened a gearbox assembly line at its Costa Mesa, CA headquarters to offer Assembled in USA gearboxes.

2018

UMC released the Power Saver 4 Center Drive, featuring an optimized gear design and cartridge output seals for improved performance and reliability.

2019

UMC leveraged its renowned center drive motor technology and released a series of 130 GPM 60Hz Booster Pumps, featuring improved performance and field life.

2020

UMC answered the industry’s call for pivots to do more than just irrigate by releasing its High-Speed Constant Move powertrain system, enabling pivots to move up to 10x faster, unlocking the ability to practically chemigate, fertigate, and capture actionable field data in real-time.

2021

UMC released its patented 755 and 765 series gearboxes, featuring large internal diaphragms that minimize internal pressure resulting in less oil leaks and longer gearbox life.

2022

UMC released its 200 GPM 60Hz Booster Pumps, meeting the industry’s demand for a more reliable high flow Booster Pump.

2023

UMC released its 88GPM and 130GPM 50Hz Booster Pumps, meeting the industry’s demand for Booster Pumps designed specially for 50Hz operation.