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Martin Industries began as a family business almost 100 years ago in an era when customers were friends and employees were like an extended family. Martin's success has been due to its commitment to customers, strong employee team and its fiscal management. Our future as a broad-based durable goods manufacturer continues to be shaped by the traditions of the past.
Our mission is:
To provide our customers with the high quality products that we would expect as consumers. Martin's emphasis on quality extends from the initial concept and product engineering through production and customer service. We are customer-driven.
To provide our employees with a working environment that is motivating and rewards them for achieving the company's goals. Our employees are Martin's key resources.
To provide our shareholders with an excellent return on their investment. Profits ensure continued growth opportunities for our company and our employees.
Martin Industries began as a closely-held private corporation and has evolved over the past nine decades into a broad-based manufacturer of area comfort appliances. Annual sales in excess of $100 million are achieved through national and international distribution channels.
The Martin product lines include gas and solid fuel heaters, gas logs, pre-engineered fireplaces, do-it-yourself utility trailer kits and premium gas barbecue grills.
At the turn of the century, in 1905, W. H. Martin, Sr. established King Stove and Range Company in Sheffield, Alabama. Mr. Martin was joined by his brother, Charles Martin, in the production and sale of coal and wood heaters, stoves, and ranges.
In 1918 the Martins acquired a failing stove foundry across the river in Florence, Alabama, and in six months it was operating in a profitable manner. The foundry was incorporated as Martin Stove and Range Company, and this operation produced coal and wood stoves and gray iron castings. This foundry also produced cast hollowware, cast iron skillets and "sad" irons -- used to press clothes.
In 1939 the Martins went to nearby Huntsville, Alabama to bid for some machinery at a bankrupt manufacturing plant. Instead of just buying the machinery, they bid on and bought the entire plant and Martin Stamping and Stove Company was born. This company began manufacturing a small line of unvented gas heaters.
With the beginning of World War II, both foundries began manufacturing magazine heaters for the Army, and Martin Stamping produced bomb crates and other material for the war effort. When the war ended, all three companies returned to production of what has grown to become the most complete line of gas, coal and wood heating equipment on the American market today.
In the late 1950's, Martin Stamping and Stove in Huntsville began production of a line of electric heaters. Production expanded so much that more room was needed to increase manufacturing capacity. In 1966, a new plant located in Athens, Alabama was built and opened; this plant was the Electric Heater Division of Martin Stamping and Stove Company.
With the introduction of the Martin Firecones in 1968 and zero-clearance fireplaces in 1970, the Martin Fireplace Division, located in Athens, has become a major factor in the growth of the company.
On January 1, 1974, the three companies merged to become Martin Industries, Inc., and began merging corporate duties. In June 1976, Central Administration Offices were opened in Florence, Alabama. A centralized engineering facility was established the same year in Florence.
In the meantime, the Sheffield plant had phased out its foundry operation and had become a major stamping and fabricating plant assembling most of the Ashley and King coal and wood heaters. The Florence plant became a highly automated foundry producing all the casting needs for Martin products and many outside customers.
In November 1977, Martin Industries bought another plant located in Americus, Georgia. The Americus plant began production of Ashley heaters and electric heaters in 1978.
A 200,000 square foot building located in Huntsville, formerly Genesco, was added to the Martin facilities and increased Martin's manufacturing and warehouse floor space to 1.2 million square feet.
In 1980 Martin Industries purchased the Edison line of dehumidifiers from McGraw Edison and in 1982 added the Sahara line, a product purchased from Hobart Manufacturing and made for General Electric Company.
In January 1987, Martin Industries made two more significant changes. The Florence foundry was sold to several previous employees, and a long-term purchase contract was negotiated for the supply of cast iron to Martin. In addition, the wood and gas divisions of Atlanta Stove, a major competitor for many years, were purchased and umsitioned into Martin's production at Huntsville and Athens. The Atlanta Stove sales administration was moved to Florence.
Another year of growth followed; and, in November 1988, the NuWay Manufacturing Company, which produced a complete line of do-it-yourself utility trailer kits, was acquired by Martin. This market-leading product was integrated into the Sheffield facility and was running at full production by January 1989.
A new -product direction was established in 1989 with the purchase of certain assets of Filex, Inc. of Ossining, New York. Filex is a major line of steel office furniture sold through the large office retail outlets. Production of the file cabinets and desks was incorporated into the Sheffield and Huntsville facilities during the third quarter of that year.
In September of 1990, Martin added to its existing gas heater line by acquiring the Warm Morning line of unvented heaters. In the same acquisition, the line of Broilmaster premium gas grills was added as another new direction. These items are manufactured in the Washington Park, Illinois facility, which was part of this acquisition.
Effective January 1, 1992, Martin Industries, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) was adopted. It is designed to make all eligible employees part-owners of the Company. On January 7, 1993, the ESOP purchased a substantial portion of Martin Industries, Inc., stock to be made available to the employees over a period of time. This new opportunity for employee ownership gives its workers more reason to produce a quality product.
During 1993, Martin sold the Americus, Georgia facility and the dehumidifier line.
Effective July 13, 1995, Martin Industries, Inc., became a public company through an initial public offering. The purpose of the offering was to obtain funding for acquisitions, continue new product development and capital improvements.
On February 1, 1996, Martin Industries acquired Hunter Technology, Inc., of Oriflia, Ontario in Canada. Hunter manufactures a fine of high efficiency gas fireplaces. This acquisition further increased Martin's customer base in Canada.
In April, 1997, Martin Industries discontinued the manufacturing of metal office furniture.
Martin's large base of customers is served by a broad product line which continues to expand through internal product development, as well as a strong corporate acquisition program.
Martin Industries, Inc. has worked to be versatile in meeting the demands of a changing market place and has become well-known in American manufacturing. Martin products are sold in all fifty states, Canada, Mexico, South America and European countries. They are sold through distributors, dealers, home centers and mass merchandisers.
For more than ninety years, Martin Industries, Inc. has served its employees, its customers, and its communities with pride.