Palmgren was first located at 8383 South Chicago Ave. in Chicago.
Clarence Palmgren founded the company in 1919.
Palmgren marks its 100th anniversary as a manufacturer of innovative and patented products for the metalworking industry. "Founder Clarence Palmgren is credited with the design and manufacture of the first machine vises, cross slides and rotary tables," said a company spokesperson. "His designs significantly increased efficiency and productivity in the metalworking industry worldwide."
The company's first product was the angle machine vise followed by traditional drill press vises and then a complete line-up of machine and milling vises. In the early 1950s, the company's rotary tables and cross slide tables were designed, which were suitable for transferring workpieces from one machine position to another without losing squareness or alignment. Complementing the Palmgren vises, these tables also increased the usefulness and capabilities of all the Palmgren vises.
Palmgren supported the World War II effort by supplying the government with machine vises and aircraft propeller service equipment as well as patented underwater arc-oxy cutting and welding equipment for the Navy.
During its first 20 years, the company, located on Chicago's southside, was originally called Chicago Tool & Engineering Co. until it was re-branded with the family's name. It later moved north and remained family owned until 1997. In October 2013, the company was acquired by C.H. Hanson, one of the nation's oldest manufacturers and family run for five generations, and is now one of Hanson's family of brands.
"Clarence Palmgren's vision created a foundation of innovation and quality that the Palmgren brand continues to build upon. Today, Palmgren's product offering includes our workholding products, bench top shop equipment as well as sawing, abrasive finishing, drilling, milling, turning and CNC machines. "Our commitment to innovation and service is as strong as ever as we produce machines and tools that are made to be used. And we still manufacture many of Clarence Palmgren's original products," said Ernie Torkilsen, Vice President at C.H. Hanson.
For more information contact:
Palmgren - a C.H. Hanson Brand
2000 N. Aurora Road
Naperville, IL 60563
800-827-3398
sales@chhanson.com
www.palmgren.com