About Hess : Our History

From our headquarters in Niles, Michigan, Hess Engineering has established ourselves as a world leader in the design and manufacture of systems used in metalforming. Since our inception, Hess has been striving to meet customer goals through process-based knowledge, unparalleled customer service and commitment to quality.

1976	Company founded by J. T. Hess.
1977	Acquired manufacturing facilities in Niles, Michigan.
1980	Signed cross-license with Th. Kieserling & Albrecht, Solingen, W. Germany. Kieserling is world famous as a supplier of high performance rim lines. Hess Engineering obtained the right to include Kieserling technology with its own.
1981	Signed license with Ottensener-Eisenwerk GmbH, Hamburg, W. Germany. Resistance welders (Flash butt, DC, Projection).
1986	Tenth Anniversary. Signed license agreement with Dengensha Mfg. Co., Kawasaki City, Japan, to produce Hess equipment for Japanese market.
1988	Received President's "E" Award for Exports. Signed technical agreement with MAE of Erkarath, Germany to design, build, and market the Hess-MAE line of straightening machines in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
1989	Signed technical agreement with Sundwiger Eisenhuette (SUNDWIG) of West Germany, and began marketing efforts into the precision metal strip processing industry.
1991	Fifteenth Anniversary Purchased the Wean Industries rim and ring product line.
1994	Purchased the Blohm and Voss GmbH resistance welders (flash butt, D.C., projection, brake shoe) and valve upset product lines.
1995	Opened a European sales and service office in Frauenfeld, Switzerland. Increased the size of its manufacturing facilities in Niles.
1996	Twentieth Anniversary.
1997	Hess Engineering, Inc. and Hess-MAE, Inc. merger.
1998	Purchased Kieserling GmbH Wheel & Rim Business.
2001	Signed licensing agreement with Sango for oblique and offset spinning technology.

	Print this page

About Hess Home Our History Quality Statement Careers Events Locations Map to Hess Contact Hess Links Privacy Statement