[1] In 1890, he formed a contract diamond drilling company to serve the rapidly growing U.S. iron ore mining and steel industry.

In 1914, Longyear began setting up the first of six diamond core rigs for Phelps Dodge Corporation to explore for copper in Arizona.

Robert Longyear, Edmund's son, became president of the firm in 1924, preserving the chain of family ownership and management that would continue for another 40 years.

The company also signed its first contract for work in Africa, sending equipment and a crew to provide drilling for copper ores.

In 1949, the company began a close, long-term general business and marketing relationship with Christensen Diamond Products (CDP).

During the 1950s, the two firms jointly developed business ventures in Japan, France, Canada, Mexico, the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, the Philippines and Costa Rica.

In 1965, when Longyear's annual sales had reached US$15 million, the company bought more land in Minneapolis and persuaded the city government to vacate Erie Street to accommodate its expansion.

In 1969, Longyear opened a new Minneapolis office building and an enlarged manufacturing plant, bringing the company's headquarters and U.S. production onto one site for the first time.

FACTS was dissolved when Boart International (a wholly owned subsidiary of Anglo American) bought out CDP's interest in Longyear.

Longyear purchased the rights to make and sell Chicago Pneumatic's small CP-65 compressed air drill designed for underground use.

In 1983, Longyear acquired Lang Exploratory Drilling based in Utah, and in 1984 purchased Cushion Cut, a firm producing diamond tools to saw concrete in runways and highways.

Longyear acquired Slope Indicator Company, the nation's largest producer of geotechnical instruments, and Northern Air Supply in 1988, followed by the Campbell Pacific Division in 1989 and WTD Environmental Drilling in 1990.

[citation needed] Despite being owned by Anglo American for more than 30 years, Boart Longyear was considered a non-core asset for the Johannesburg based mining company.

Since the sale by Anglo American, the company's management has carried out a number of ownership changes, restructuring initiatives, and acquisitions.

[5] In late 2012, Craig Kipp resigned as CEO amidst slowdowns in mineral business and capital expenditure revisions, leading investors to expect further deterioration of Boart's revenue.

[10] In January 2024, Boart Longyear enters into Arrangement Agreement with private equity firm American Industrial Partners for Take-Private Transaction.