Made in the Sauk Valley: Donaldson Company Inc.

Founded: 1915 with the invention of the first successful air cleaner for internal combustion engines in farm tractors.

Headquartered: Bloomington, Minn., with a presence in more than 40 countries.

How long has the company been in the local community? Since 1973.

How many people does the company employ? 260.

What kind of people does the company employ? Skilled and general labor, administrative personnel and professionals with degrees in business, engineering and other technical fields.

What is its main product? Air filters.

What does the company make in sales a year? $2.3 billion

What is the company’s specialty? Donaldson creates a broad spectrum of filtration products and services to meet the evolving needs of its diverse customers. These filtration solutions span the entire life cycle of a customer’s application, from initial system design through replacement.

What industries does the company serve with its products? Donaldson serves the agriculture, construction, metalworking, mining and transportation industries, among many others.

What makes the company unique? What is its proudest achievement? Donaldson employs more than 1,000 scientists and engineers around the world who invent innovative and cost-effective solutions for its customers. The company invests more than $50 million each year in research and development.

What kind of community service/outreach does the company do? The Donaldson Foundation is the company’s primary instrument for its charitable efforts. Its mission is to positively impact the communities in which Donaldson employees live and work by supporting education.

The foundation provides matching funds to the Dixon plant’s annual United Way campaign. In 2010, the foundation provided a grant of $9,100 to the Dixon Public Library to create a career center. In 2011, the foundation provided a grant of $10,800 to the Dixon Public Schools to purchase 30 new computers and two servers to further implement Measurement of Academic Progress (MAP) testing at the high school.

Also in 2011, the foundation provided a $100,000 grant to Junior Achievement to help establish middle and high school programs in the communities in which Donaldson employees live and work.

Address: 815 W. Progress Drive, Dixon

Phone number: 815-288-3374

Website: www.donaldson.com