A Look Back - Kiemle-Hankins Company History

Over a span of more than three-quarters of a century, The Kiemle-Hankins Company has been involved with electricity.  The initial spark began in 1928 with Fred Kiemle's founding of an electric apparatus repair shop in downtown Toledo - the Fred W. Kiemle Company.   According to company records, the original company facility is now located about where the shortstop stands anytime there is a Mud Hens ballgame at 5/3rd Field!

In 1954, the spark became a flame when William H. Hankins purchased the company and it became The Kiemle-Hankins Company.  The rest, as they say, is history.  Bill Hankins began the company's fifty year old "golden rule marble" tradition, a philosophy that still represents an important core value for the company today.  Under his leadership, Kiemle-Hankins began a period of growth and expansion that saw, among other things, the relocation of the company to a newly constructed 42,000 square foot facility just outside of Toledo (Ampoint Industrial Park in Perrysburg), an expansion into new equipment sales that also saw the beginnings of the company's long-standing relationship with Allen Bradley, and a clear commitment to become the region's leading motor repair company.

In 1974, Bill Lugar, an executive with the Company for more than 20 years, culminated his long and successful career at Kiemle-Hankins by becoming the Company's third President.  Mr. Lugar's years at the helm helped to bridge a number of significant transitions involving the leadership and direction of Kiemle-Hankins.

In 1978 Steve Martindale became the Company's fourth President.  Under Mr. Martindale, Kiemle-Hankins expanded greatly in both the industrial services and new equipment sales arenas.  The 1970's saw the opening of supply branch operations in Fremont, OH and Defiance, OH.  By the end of the 1980's, the company had outgrown its home.  The Supply Division moved its headquarters to Maumee, OH, leaving the entire Ampoint facility to serve as the Services Division.

The 1990's saw a steady ramp-up of the company's repair and maintenance services beyond the continued investment and leadership in electromechanical apparatus and beyond the company's historical NW Ohio roots.  First came the start of the power services group, which enabled the company to provide comprehensive repair, maintenance, and testing of substations, switchgear, and transformers to its customers.  Along with power services the company also started K-H Laboratories, making K-H the only industrial repair company in the region with its own in-house metrology / calibration department.

In 1997, the Company acquired its interest in Great Lakes Service & Sales, which later grew into the current company operations in Gary, IN.  In 1998, Kiemle-Hankins acquired Birclar Electric & Electronics, which has since grown to become the largest electromechanical repair operation in the Detroit Metro area.  In 2000, the Company acquired its operations in southern OH, which when combined created the Dayton Division.  Dayton Division was again expanded with the purchase of the Dayton Branch of the Lincoln Service Center in 2001, creating a formidable presence for the Company in this region.  Under Steve Martindale's leadership, the Company expanded into southern Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana, and developed into a diversified industrial electrical equipment sales and service Company.  At its peak, the Company had more than $50 million in annual sales and more than 250 associates.  Throughout this time, Kiemle-Hankins continued its commitment to quality, integrity, and service.

In 2002, the strategic decision was made to focus the Company's efforts on industrial equipment services and repair, with the goal of becoming the dominant provider of such services in the region.  The sale of the Company's Supply Division in that year has helped to ensure that Kiemle-Hankins has the resources and financial strength to be world class and the market leader for those industrial services in which we have specialized.  Since 2002, the Company has increased sales and profit every year, while expanding its investment in state-of-the-art facilities, equipment, and training.  If you believe that your provider of industrial electrical maintenance services should have the highest ethical standards, a proven commitment to quality, and an unsurpassed ability to deliver customer service, you want Kiemle-Hankins.

For the past, present, and future, we at Kiemle-Hankins, along with our Great Lakes & Birclar Divisions, believe that by helping our customers save money on their investment in industrial equipment, we will continue to grow and thrive.  And, it is our daily commitment to those customers who partner with us that we will...