The story of Ditch Witch is an American legend of ingenuity, a journey that began in 1902 in Perry, Oklahoma, with a blacksmith shop founded by Carl Malzahn. But the true spark ignited in the late 1940s with his son, Ed Malzahn, a mechanical engineer who looked at the backbreaking work of digging trenches for residential utility lines and decided there had to be a better way. At a time when the only options were a pick and shovel or massive, house-sized excavators, Ed envisioned something in between.

    At the very heart of their identity is the invention that created an industry. In 1949, Ed Malzahn introduced the first compact trencher, a machine that could be operated by a single person. He called it the "Ditch Witch," and it forever changed the way the world installs underground utilities. This wasn't just a new tool; it was the birth of the compact underground construction industry.

    This is a story of relentless innovation and the color orange. The iconic orange paint isn't just branding; it's a badge of durability known worldwide. Ditch Witch didn't stop at trenchers. They pioneered the Horizontal Directional Drill (HDD) market, allowing operators to bore under rivers and roads without disturbing the surface. Their narrative is one of constant evolution, expanding into skid steers, vacuum excavators, and tracking electronics, always with the goal of helping customers "Find a Way."

    This is a story of a family legacy that became a global powerhouse. For generations, the Malzahn family guided the company, maintaining its roots in Perry while expanding its reach to every continent. In 2019, a new chapter began when Ditch Witch joined the Toro Company, combining their specialized expertise with the resources of a global leader in outdoor environments.

    Today, the story of Ditch Witch is one of grit and underground precision. It is a promise that beneath our feet, the infrastructure that connects the world—power, water, and data—is being laid by the orange machines that started it all.

Year Founded: 1902

Main Products: Vacuum Excavators, Directional Drills, Trenchers, Stand-On Skid Steers,

Brand: Ditch Witch

Country of Origin: USA

Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/DitchWitch/

Website: https://www.ditchwitch.com/

Address: 1959 Fir St, Perry, OK 73077, United States

Contact No.: +15803364402

Email: info@ditchwitch.com