About Us

HELPING OUR CUSTOMERS SUCCEED FOR 100 YEARS

N C can trace its history back to its days as the “Northern Commercial Company,” one of the earliest trading and mercantile companies in Alaska. Our incredibly deep roots continued to develop, and in 1926, N C was named as an official Caterpillar® dealer.

In 1994, N C was purchased by our fellow member company, Tractor & Equipment Co., which was founded in 1929 in Sidney, Montana. 

1926

• N C is officially named the Caterpillar dealer for Alaska.

1929

• J.J. Niehenke founded Tractor & Equipment Co. in the real half of a blacksmith’ shop in Sidney, Montana and became an official Caterpillar dealer.

1948

• N C Machinery opens in Washington.

1953

• John H. Harnish, the son-in-law of J.J. Niehenke, was elected President and General manager. At this time, Tractor & Equipment Co. had facilities in Sidney, Glasgow, and Miles City, Montana.

1963

• Tractor & Equipment Co. acquired Nash Davis Machinery Co., the neighboring Caterpillar dealer which established Billings, Montana as the main office.

1982

• John J. Harnish was named President. The company moves the Sidney, Montana branch operation to Williston, North Dakota for increased support to customer in that territory.

1985

• Tractor & Equipment Co. acquired ABBCO, Inc., the Caterpillar Dealer in Noth Central Montana with the main branch located in Great Falls, Montana. This acquisition combined with Tractor & Equipment Co.’s branches now represented the following counties and areas:
  • 44 (of 56) counties in Montana
  • 5 counties in Northwestern North Dakota
  • 4 counties in Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park

1994

• Tractor & Equipment Co. acquired N C Machinery Co. a Caterpillar dealer with significant presence in the following cities and states:
  • In Alaska: Anchorage, Fairbanks, Wasilla, Juneau, Prudhoe Bay, and Dutch Harbor.
  • In Washington: Seattle, Mt. Vernon, Chehalis, Wenatchee, Monroe, Port Angeles, Yakima, and Fife.
  • The acquisition included territories in Magadan and Chukota, Russia.

1998

• Tractor & Equipment Co. acquired Montana Power and Equipment Co. which was renamed Machinery Power and Equipment Co., a local rental company in Helena, Montana.

2000

• In the new millennium, Corporate service became Harnish Group Inc., a holding company in which the following business units became wholly owned and subsidiaries of Harnish Group Inc.:
  • Tractor & Equipment Co.
  • N C Machinery Co.
  • Machinery Power & Equipment Co.
  • N C Power Systems Co.

2011

• SITECH Northwest Inc. was established, allowing US sales and service of navigational devices for heavy machinery and equipment.

2018

• John W. Harnish appointed President and Chief Operating Officer with an effective date of January 1, 2018.

2026

• N C Machinery celebrates 100 years as a Caterpillar dealer.

Today, N C, with fourth-generation management at the helm, continues successfully partnering with our customers, delivering unrivaled support and superior equipment every day. 

Please contact us today to begin, or to continue, a successful partnership.