Earnest Machine Products Co. is marking its 70th anniversary in 2018 by focusing on “What’s Next.”

“To define our future, we only need to look to our past,” president Kirk Zehnder said. “My grandfather, Paul Zehnder, founded the company in 1948 with the idea to ‘put the needs of the customer first’.”

Kirk Zehnder

“We’ve been putting our customers’ needs first for 70 years, and we plan to continue doing that,” said Zehnder. “Specifically, in 2018 we’ll focus on expanding our product lines, helping customers become more efficient, and will make several investments as part of a continued commitment to manufacturing—all backed by our industry-leading service guarantee.”

Earnest Machine relocated its Atlanta distribution center and the Indianapolis facility is moving this winter. The two facilities will be identical and will improve efficiency and speed, Zehnder said.

Earnest Machine has extended to more than 10,000 large-diameter and hard-to-find product SKUs; added production drilling capabilities that allow drilling small parts in large volume; added CNC machine to its manufacturing facility and installed new equipment to better manage workflow and to enable Earnest to work with a broader range of exotic materials; and refined e-commerce services to help customers save time and money.

Earnest also is working with high school STEM programs to support the next generation of workers. 

“Like everyone else in our industry, we feel the pain every time someone retires from one of our machine shops,” noted Zehnder. With fewer people selecting the machining industry as a career choice, Earnest Machine is “supporting STEM programs in high schools: to get students interested in machining and engineering and to help them and their parents understand that there are great career opportunities available in the fastener industry, and not all of them require a four-year college degree.”

Zehnder noted Earnest Machine will sponsor the inaugural Fastener Fair USA “in our own back yard,” which will be held April 11-12, 2018, in Cleveland.

“Cleveland was a manufacturing mecca and was home to many fastener companies in 1948 when our company was founded,” added Zehnder. “The city lost some of its luster in the 70’s and 80’s but has come back strong. We plan to use our sponsorship of Fastener Fair USA to show that—like Cleveland—Earnest Machine is going strong and is ready to help decide ‘What’s Next’ for our industry.”

Earnest Machine is an importer, master distributor and manufacturer of large diameter and hard-to-find fasteners for the agriculture, construction equipment, heavy transportation, mining, structural construction and wind industries. The company maintains warehouses, sales offices and manufacturing centers in Ohio and UK; warehouses in Atlanta and Indianapolis; and is headquartered at 1250 Linda St., Rocky River, OH 44116. Tel: 800 327-6378 Web: EarnestMachine.com

For more on Earnest Machine see the FIN Fastener History section:

1999 FIN – Earnest Machine Products Marks 50th With Book of Complete History
2010 FIN – Earnest Machine Moving Warehouses to Indianapolis