Shank's Veterinary Equipment, Inc., originally Shank's Machine Co., Inc., began manufacturing large animal surgery tables in 1957. The company initially manufactured one simple table that could handle a partially sedated large animal and lay it from a standing position to its side. The Shank's® Douglas Tiltmaster Table (commonly referred to as the Shank's® Tilt Table) became the industry standard for the large animal veterinarian.