1885

Thomas J. Barry opened a machine shop in South St. Louis to provide conveying and transportation equipment to area malt houses. He was joined later by his brother-in-law, Alfred Wehmiller, to form the Barry-Wehmiller Machinery Company. As the business grew, the two men expanded their product lines with a machine to quickly soak and wash refillable bottles.

1895

Pneumatic Scale Corporation was established and received a patent on its first pneumatically operated scale. Its founder, William H. Doble, served as president of the company for 53 years.

1898

United Container Machinery opened its doors and began pioneering new developments in wet end and finishing products for the corrugated and converting industry.

1910

Herman Hayssen invented and patented the first automatic bread wrapping machine and formed Hayssen Manufacturing Company.

Angelus Sanitary Can Machine Company was founded by inventor Henry L. Guenther, who introduced can seaming technology that would become the standard for the food, beverage and canning industries around the world.

1919

PCMC was founded as the Bay City Machine Company by father and son, Peter J. Christman Sr. and Peter J. Christman Jr., whose original invention was a machine designed to fold paper napkins more efficiently using a vacuum instead of traditional mechanical grippers. Its product offerings were later expanded to include converting machines to make rolled tissue products, such as bathroom tissue and paper towels.

1949

Thiele Engineering Company was established and began building reciprocating placers under the guidance of its founder, Ed Thiele.

1950

Fred Wehmiller invited Bill Chapman to join Barry-Wehmiller as treasurer and general manager. Bill had been involved with the company through his previous position as an accountant with Arthur Andersen.

1953

Fred Wehmiller passed away and was succeeded by Bill Chapman as president.

1956

Fleetwood Systems was founded in Chicago by Wallace Moyden and Norman Chiva. The company's first products included magnetic upstackers for steel can ends.

1962

Ward Machinery Company was founded by William F. Ward, Sr., who created the world's first modern rotary die cutter-the primary die cutting method for corrugated boxes-and developed a line of advanced die cutting, printing and folding equipment.

1963

The year marked an important turning point for Barry-Wehmiller as ownership passed from the Wehmiller family to the Chapman family.

Wyard Industries was founded by Ron Wyman and Dick Howard as specialists in case and pallet handling technology.

1968

Marquip, Inc. was founded as a manufacturer of custom-designed automated machinery for the building materials industry. Under the leadership of founder Carl Marske and his business partner, Richard Thomas, the company quickly established itself as a market leader with the creation of reliable, technically innovative machinery for the corrugated industry.

1969

Sandiacre Packaging was founded in Nottingham, England, by Albert Davison as a manufacturer of high-speed vertical form/fill/seal machines and integrated systems.

Bill Chapman persuaded his son, Bob, to leave his career at Price Waterhouse and join Barry-Wehmiller in a leadership development role that involved hands-on experience in every area of the business.

Accraply was founded by Stan Dale to serve the growing pressure-sensitive label market and soon emerged as a leader in labeling machinery technology.

1971

Goldco Industries was founded in Golden, Colo., by Richard Vander Meer as a manufacturer of bulk palletizers for the emerging two-piece aluminum can market. Soon after, the company introduced the world's first continuous motion bulk can palletizer, which evolved into its flagship product offering.

1975

Bob Chapman became president of Barry-Wehmiller following his father's death.

1979

Continuing a period of rapid growth focused on new markets and expanded product lines, Barry-Wehmiller established an operation in Clearwater, Fla., specializing in the design and manufacture of Italian fillers for the Western beverage industry.

1986

Barry-Wehmiller Design Group was established as a primary engineering consulting source to major domestic and international corporations under the direction of Phil Ostapowicz. The creation of the Design Group was instrumental in developing the vital synergy among the Barry-Wehmiller divisions today.

1987

Barry-Wehmiller spun off two-thirds of the company in a $35 million IPO offering on the London Stock Exchange that divested control of its European-based company, while retaining ownership of its historic brewery equipment business. This highly successful offering dramatically enhanced Barry-Wehmiller's financial strength and marked the beginning of the modern chapter in the company's history. The historic business remained Barry-Wehmiller Company, with initial revenues of $20 million.

Early acquisitions by Barry-Wehmiller following the IPO included ABC Conveyor, Inc. and Auto-Flush Systems Ltd.

1988

Reflecting on the company's experiences through subsequent periods of dramatic growth, traumatic decline and phenomenal recovery, Barry-Wehmiller established a vision known as its "Strategy for Growth, Value & Liquidity." The disciplined implementation of this strategy established the foundation for a sustainable and more resilient future of value creation for every stakeholder.

1989

Pneumatic Scale Corporation was acquired by Barry-Wehmiller as part of its long-term strategy to diversify Barry-Wehmiller's product offerings and improve the balance of markets served.

1991

Jetstream Systems and Meyer Conveyair, Inc., suppliers of high-speed air handling systems, were acquired by Barry-Wehmiller and merged with ABC Conveyor to create a single entity located in Denver.

1992

Barry-Wehmiller purchased Tampa Company (Tampco) of Tampa, Fla., makers of shrink-wrap packaging.

1995

Barry-Wehmiller acquired Frontier Equipment of Fergus Falls, Minn., and Thiele Engineering Company of Minneapolis, combining the two companies into a single entity, but retaining both locations and manufacturing operations.

Barry-Wehmiller acquired the Figgie Packaging Division, which included such legacy brands as Consolidated, Pfaudler, Continental and Closetech International. These product lines were integrated with Pneumatic Scale, increasing Barry-Wehmiller's total revenues from $85 million in 1994 to $160 million in 1996. The acquisition also provided the opportunity to relocate Pneumatic Scale and establish a modern new home in Akron, Ohio.

1996

Zepf Technologies, a leading changeparts manufacturer based in Waterloo, Ontario, was acquired by Barry-Wehmiller and relocated to Clearwater, Fla.

1997

Barry-Wehmiller completed its largest acquisition to date-the purchase of three packaging equipment groups from Bemis Company, Inc.: Accraply, Inc., Bemis Packaging Machinery Company, and Hayssen, Inc. The deal increased Barry-Wehmiller's annual revenues by nearly $100 million and brought its total revenues to $250 million in 1998.

Barry-Wehmiller launched its innovative E3 sales coverage program, which was designed to enhance the interaction between customers and sales associates and enhance the efficiency of Barry-Wehmiller's sales channels by empowering every sales team member to "see" the potential for all products and services across the company's multiple business divisions.

1998

Bemis Packaging Machinery Company and Thiele Engineering were merged into a single business unit called Thiele Technologies, Inc. to create a company with a better balance of markets and technology and greater potential for growth. Thiele's new vision was to become the recognized leader in end-of-line packaging systems.

1999

Fleetwood Systems was acquired and merged with Jetstream Systems to form Fleetwood, Inc., a new leader in material handling systems. Operations for the combined organization were centralized in Fleetwood's large and modern facility in Chicago.

2000

Barry-Wehmiller made its first investment outside of packaging and expanded into the corrugated board market with the acquisition of Marquip, a pioneer in the design and manufacture of high-speed corrugating and sheeting machinery, and Barry-Wehmiller's 15th acquisition in 13 years.

As part of the Marquip acquisition, Barry-Wehmiller saw the potential of an internal services team at Marquip led by Vasant Bennett to become an India-based offshore engineering and IT consulting organization, and launched Barry-Wehmiller International Resources (BWIR), relocating its leadership team to St. Louis and expanding the base of operations in Chennai, India.

CCL Labeling Equipment, Inc., owner of the historic Avery Dennison pressure-sensitive labeling equipment product line, was acquired and consolidated with Accraply to increase the company's market share in key sectors and expand its print and apply capabilities.

2001

Barry-Wehmiller acquired I & H Engineered Systems, a manufacturer of warming and cooling equipment for the food and beverage industries, and combined the company's product lines with Fleetwood's to expand its range of technology solutions.

Vertical form/fill/seal machinery manufacturer Wright Machinery was purchased and its product line integrated with Hayssen Packaging Technologies to enhance the company's position in the flexible packaging industry.

Barry-Wehmiller developed the innovative CIA2 (Commitment Intensity Achievement Award) program to recognize and reward those sales executives who can "see" the market potential and realize it within a forecasted time frame.

2002

Barry-Wehmiller acquired Ward Machinery Company and United Container Machinery of Baltimore, merging them with Marquip to form MarquipWardUnited, one of the world's largest global suppliers of complete corrugating, finishing and sheeting equipment solutions, with headquarters in Phillips, Wis. The two operations remained in Baltimore as a merged organization.

Barry-Wehmiller purchased Mateer Burt, a recognized auger filler and labeler manufacturer. Its filling and roll-through labeling products were merged with Pneumatic Scale, while its print-and-apply labeling products were integrated with Accraply, broadening the product offerings and markets of each division.

Barry-Wehmiller developed its Guiding Principles of Leadership following a leadership retreat with associates from across the organization. The fundamental philosophy is articulated as "We measure success by the way we touch the lives of people." This articulation of principles was the foundational event that has led to many inspirational programs as Barry-Wehmiller team members continue to embrace a vision focused on "Achieving Principled Results on Purpose."

2003

Perplas Change Parts Division was acquired and integrated with Zepf's North American and U.K. operations to expand the company's global customer base.

The Customer Relationship Covenant was established as an extension of Barry-Wehmiller's Guiding Principles of Leadership to define how the company touches the lives of its customers. The covenant begins with the promise of "positive and insightful communication" in every interaction.

2004

Barry-Wehmiller acquired Trine Labeling Systems and integrated it with Accraply, creating one of the largest producers of labeling machinery in North America.

The Carr Centritech product line was purchased from Kendro Industries and integrated with Pneumatic Scale in Akron, Ohio, complementing its range of equipment offerings for the pharmaceutical industry

Barry-Wehmiller Design Group announced the acquisition of the New Hampshire-based Stahlman Group, Inc., an engineering consulting firm specializing in facility design. The merger further expanded the Design Group's service offerings and client base in the food and beverage industry.

The Zepf operation in Clearwater, Fla., was integrated with Pneumatic Scale as a natural extension of its changeparts product line and creating a second operational base.

2005

Barry-Wehmiller completed back-to-back acquisitions of Wyard Industries and Goldco International, Inc. The palletizing and depalletizing product lines were integrated with Fleetwood to form FleetwoodGoldcoWyard, Inc., a new leader in conveyance technology and product handling equipment.

In its first international acquisition since 1987, Barry-Wehmiller purchased the packaging machinery division of Central Bottling International (CBI) in Yorkshire, England.

Barry-Wehmiller continued its acquisition initiatives with the addition of Edmeyer, a well-known manufacturer of packaging equipment for the dairy industry, which was integrated with Thiele Technologies in Minneapolis.

AMBEC was acquired and its Lynchburg, Va., operation became the operational center for the conveyance product line of FleetwoodGoldcoWyard. Soon after, CVC Systems was acquired and integrated with the FleetwoodGoldcoWyard operation in Loveland, Colo., further enhancing the company's presence in the conveyance industry, with revenues approaching $100 million.

Barry-Wehmiller launched its Guiding Principles of Leadership SSR Recognition Program, a peer-driven campaign that identifies and celebrates "true" leadership in every area of the organization. Winners receive the opportunity to enjoy the use of a Chevy SSR retro sports truck with their family for one week following a special award ceremony.

Barry-Wehmiller completed its largest acquisition to date, adding Paper Converting Machine Company (PCMC) of Green Bay, Wis., to its organization, and paper converting equipment as a fourth major operating platform.

2006

Barry-Wehmiller introduced its Living Legacy of Leadership (L3), a unique vision exploring the convergence between its Guiding Principles of Leadership and the Lean Enterprise system of continuous improvement. The L3 vision articulates the company's commitment to a culture in which each team member returns home with a sense of fulfillment.

Slidell was acquired and integrated with Thiele Technologies, expanding the company's range of bagging and palletizing applications for customers in the chemical, feed, seed and other bulk material handling markets.

Thiele's growth initiatives continued with the acquisition of Streamfeeder, strengthening its presence in the commercial printing, packaging and mail fulfillment sectors.

Barry-Wehmiller Design Group expanded its Electrical Manufacturing Division (EMD) to help serve a broad range of new clients. The new company, ControlTech Automation, is a St. Louis-based supplier of advanced control panel solutions to the packaging, process, pharmaceutical, water/wastewater, and petrochemical industries throughout the U.S.

U.K.-based Sandiacre Rose Forgrove was acquired and integrated with Hayssen Packaging Technologies to form HayssenSandiacre, one of the largest flexible packaging equipment providers serving the global marketplace, with more than $80 million in combined revenues. The Sandiacre facility in Nottingham, England, became the European headquarters for HayssenSandiacre.

2007

Barry-Wehmiller was named one of the St. Louis Business Journal's 2007 Best Places to Work based exclusively on the results of an employee engagement survey administered at its corporate headquarters in St. Louis.

SWF Companies, Inc. of Reedley, Calif., was acquired and integrated with Thiele Technologies, positioning Thiele as one of the largest system manufacturers of primary, secondary and robotic packaging solutions across a broad spectrum of industries. The modern and efficient California location became a major operational base for Thiele with capacity for considerable growth.

Barry-Wehmiller acquired Angelus Sanitary Can Machine Company of Los Angeles. The company was integrated with Pneumatic Scale to form PneumaticScaleAngelus, one of the largest packaging machinery groups in the U.S., with revenues totaling more than $130 million. The Los Angeles facility became the major secondary operational base for PneumaticScaleAngelus along with support operations in the U.K. and Belgium.

VortX United, Inc., a leader in the design and development of high-shear starch mixing systems, was acquired and integrated with MarquipWardUnited.

Barry-Wehmiller acquired Stanford Products of Salem, Ill., integrating it with Accraply to create a nearly $50 million company in labeling technology with multiple locations in the U.S. and Canada.

Barry-Wehmiller announced the foundation of Barry-Wehmiller University (BWU), a continuous learning program that provides a dynamic educational experience in harmony with the company's vision of sending people home fulfilled by enabling them to grow, develop, learn, advance and share their gifts with others.

CBI was integrated as an operating unit within FleetwoodGoldcoWyard and expanded FleetwoodGoldcoWyard's international presence and product offerings. The combined business operates from seven strategic locations worldwide and has projected annual revenues of more than $130 million.

2008

Barry-Wehmiller acquired Nigrelli Systems, the latest in a series of strategic acquisitions over the past two years that were integrated with Thiele Technologies to create a leading provider of comprehensive end-of-line packaging equipment, systems and solutions. Nigrelli's products were relocated to Thiele's Minneapolis and Reedley, Calif., operations.

Apollo Sheeters Ltd. of Bedford, England, was acquired and integrated with MarquipWardUnited, creating a global leader in the design and manufacture of sheeting equipment across a broad range of paper, board, laminates and films.

Barry-Wehmiller reached a new milestone when revenues surpassed $1 billion for the first time in the company's 123-year-history.

Barry-Wehmiller's historic business in bottle washers and pasteurizers was integrated with FleetwoodGoldcoWyard to help drive future success in the competitive beer and beverage market.

2009

Barry-Wehmiller announced the formation of Forsyth Capital Investors LLC, an independent investment firm specializing in a unique "hybrid" investment approach that blends the best of private equity practices with the deep operational expertise of Barry-Wehmiller to strengthen the value proposition of its investments.