Leo Leonard Heikkinen (June 11, 1917 – September 10, 1999)[1] was an American entrepreneur and millionaire who founded and owned numerous forestry production companies in Prentice, Wisconsin, including Prentice Hydraulics, Inc. (now a division of Caterpillar, Inc.)[2] and Multitek North America, LLC.[1] He is credited for inventing the "knuckleboom" hydraulic loader,[3][4] an invention that propelled the Prentice loader to 51% of the worldwide market.[5][6]
- ^ a b "Leo Heikkinen". APG of Wisconsin. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
- ^ "Caterpillar | Prentice". www.caterpillar.com. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
- ^ The Northern Logger and Timber Processor. Northeastern Loggers' Association. 2003.
- ^ Mason C. Carter; Robert C. Kellison; R. Scott Wallinger (9 November 2015). Forestry in the U.S. South: A History. LSU Press. pp. 459–. ISBN 978-0-8071-6056-5.
- ^ Monte, Mike (November 2017). "Early Leo Heikkinen Loader on Display in Price County Museum". Great Lakes Timber Producer's Association.
- ^ Peterson, Cathy (September 30, 1999). "The Legacy of a Local Leader". Price County Bee.