About Us

Amida Light Towers was born in 1973 when Irvin Plowden acquired Zip-Up, Inc, in 1974 Aerostand Corporation was purchased and they got to work making the first models of what would become the Light Tower you can purchase today! Through the rest of the seventies the new company was getting all the pieces in place to successfully make the market leading Light Tower for the next decade. The name was changed from Zip-Up to Amida Industries. The name was a reference to Mr. Plowden’s children, it was their initials, Amida" is the Japanese form of the Sanskrit "Amita," meaning "Immeasurable Life". The original care and attention Mr. Plowden gave to these machines gave the company a solid foundation to start with, and as the products were received around the world, customers quickly came to understand the level of quality and workmanship that would ensure Amida was the market leader through the 1980’s. The plant in Rock Hill was expanded several times to allow the facility to adjust to changing business needs. As more products were offered over time, Generators, concrete finishing equipment and Mobile Road Information signs, the attention to detail and quality foundation lead to an increase in sales and growth.
In 1999, Amida was purchased by the Terex Corporation, at the time of this purchase Amida was a leading manufacturer of Light Construction Equipment, with leading market share for these products as well. Since then, the Light Tower World has changed drastically. Instead of 3 main competitors in the Light Tower Segment, there are hundreds! The one thing that remains the same, the Amida name and the reputation behind it are alive and well!