HSW was founded in 1937. Before the Second World War and for many post war years HSW was one of the main Polish suppliers of military equipment.

However, following improvement of international relations HSW underwent a process of great reconstruction and development gradually reorienting the range of machines and equipment needed in great extent for construction not for military purposes. HSW was one of the first Central European industrial groups to enter into co-operation and license agreements with well-known West European companies such as: Jones Cranes Ltd. - 1969, Stetter GmbH - 1970, Coles Cranes Ltd. - 1971 and US companies: Clark Equipment Co. - 1972, International Harverster Co. (IHC) - 1972.

The agreement with IHC radically enhanced further development of Huta Stalowa Wola. Thanks to the forward looking HSW management at that time the licensing agreement with IHC enabled HSW to become the first Central European manufacturer of world class crawler dozers, crawler loaders, pipelayers and wheel loaders. The license granted by Clark Equipment Co. for manufacture of drive axles enabled high - volume production of L-34 wheel loaders of HSW design, and over 20,000 units have been produced. New assembly halls, modern drop forging plant and transmission plant were built in mid 1970's to support further development of construction equipment. In early 1980's HSW's cooperation partner, IHC was replaced by its successors of construction equipment line, Dresser Industries, then by Komatsu Dresser Co. and finally by Komatsu America International Company.

HSW always managed to maintain close cooperation with each of the partners. Design and production is supported by Research & Development Center of Earth - Moving and Construction Equipment. HSW systematically increased sales of manufactured equipment through their distribution network. In 1980's and 1990's HSW was reinforcing its position as a leading manufacturer of construction equipment in Central Europe.