E&E Company Profile

E&E History-Greatness in the Making
1943-1950
E&E was founded in 1943 by Edgar J. Geist, an investment broker, and W. Earl Vogel, an engineer. It began as a manufacturers' agency, taking its name from the first initials of the two founders. Vogel retired from the partnership within a year. Geist continued and obtained representation agreements with several Detroit metalworking firms, to secure defense business, maintaining a Washington, D.C. office during the war years. During this period, the company was essentially a one-man organization.

1950-1960
In 1952, Geist's son, Wood M. Geist, a science teacher in Oakland County Community Schools, joined the firm.
During the next ten years, four outside salesmen and a proportionate number of general office, accounting, and warehousing people were added to the staff. After a move in 1954 to larger quarters on Harper Avenue near Outer Drive, the facility was eventually tripled in size. During this period, several products were marketed that were private-labeled for E&E Engineering, Inc., called Triple E Products. This manufacturing activity was abandoned when it began to detract from the primary sales function of the corporation.

1960-1970
By 1961, four major tooling component manufacturers were added to suppliers that E&E represented. The accompanying sales activity caused E&E to build its own facility on Harper Avenue near Conner not far from Detroit City Airport.
In September, 1964, the founder, Edgar J. Geist died-and the presidency was assumed by his son, Wood M. Geist.
Between 1964 and 1970, sales growth increased 141%. The total number of employees doubled to thirty.

1970-1980
By 1970, the company was recognized as a leading specialty industrial distributor in the state of Michigan. It had professionalized its warehousing capability, general office staff, and computer processing capabilities to carry out efficient distribution functions. As the automotive industry experienced setbacks during fiscal 1974-1975, E&E sales declined by 25%. Cost monitoring policies were initiated that year and continued throughout 1975-1976. In 1978 a group of tooling components used by the special machine industry were selected to be private-labeled and marketed under an "E&E Special Products" trade name. E&E experienced a 40% sales increase from 1978-1981.

1980-1990
In 1981 a $350,000 renovation was completed. A building to display robots and robot systems was acquired just west of the plant site later that same year. Formulation of a partnership with a pick-and-place equipment designer and builder (called Futech) began in August of 1985 in order to expand value-added offerings to our customer base.
Plans were being completed for relocation of the E&E Special Products manufacturing activity to a nearby industrial park in Macomb County. In December of 1986, removal of the E&E Special Products manufacturing activity from leased manufacturing premises in an aging industrial district on the east side of Detroit to a modern attractive 12,000 square foot building in an industrial park in Fraser, Michigan was accomplished. Negotiations with Camco division of Emerson Electric began in early 1986 as Camco expressed an interest in purchasing the Futech equity owned by E&E Engineering. This would be a time period which would command a focus of our energies toward an important crossroad in the life of the company-the upcoming transfer of ownership from the founding family to two of its most proven managers, Matthew Hirzel and Julian Rosinski. The sale of Futech assets to Camco was consummated in December of 1986.
E&E Consumer Products Division, established in early 1986, successfully introduced and marketed a device that eliminates squeaky floors. The product called "Squeak-Ender" was displayed at the "National Home Builders Show" at the McCormick Exposition Center in Chicago and was awarded the "Most Innovative Product" at the show. By mid-1987, plans for the systematic transfer of the E&E company ownership to Hirzel and Rosinski were complete. Hirzel was named President and CEO. He had 20 years of E&E service. All but five years of his adult career were with E&E. He spearheaded the formation and growth of E&E Special Products. Rosinski was named Executive Vice President. He was a 25-year E&E veteran. Having been intimate with each inside department as it was organized, his experience made him the obvious partner for the team. Wood M. Geist, former President, became Chairman of the Board and began a retirement path that would result in his exit from an active part of the business. As 1988 ended, much of the reorganization, which involved thorough transfer of ownership was comfortably in place. The closing of yet another decade in the life of the company came with a strong and aggressive posture, poised for the challenges that must be faced in the 90's.

1990-Present
A national recession struck in 1990, but despite the economic downturn, E&E managed to increase sales nearly 13% over 1989. The Consumer Products Division continued to grow with the acceptance of the "Squeak-Ender" by major retail chains. E&E Engineering which was housed in Detroit, at a facility that had been expanded five times, was not the most efficient nor in the most desirable location. E&E Special Products, located some 20 miles north, required more space and was in the last year of a three year lease.
An architect and contractor were hired and on December 28, 1992, E&E Engineering and E&E Special Products were joined for the first time under the same roof. A new 35,000 square foot facility located at 7200 Miller Drive, Warren, Michigan, would now serve as world headquarters for E&E companies. The facility on Harper, which was built in the early sixties and expanded throughout the years, was sold. The Chairman, Wood M. Geist, retired and a new era began. In 1993 E&E positioned themselves and their suppliers for what was projected to be the largest sales year in their history-they were not disappointed. By the year end, sales had increased 35% over 1992 and an incredible 52% from 1990.
B.T.M. Corporation, a manufacturer of clamps, grippers, and toggle presses, had contacted E&E regarding marketing and developing clamping products. An organization was established to market these products throughout North America under the "BETEM" logo (pronounced "beat-um") by joining the B.T.M. and E&E logos. "REPEX" Division was started in mid-1994 to give E&E a presence in Mexico and Latin America. The North America Free trade Alliance (N.A.F.T.A.) accord had been implemented and U.S. companies were scurrying to develop relationships south of the border.

The Machine Slides Division, started in 1994, was becoming a challenge. Demand for the product was increasing at an overwhelming rate and the division was growing. E&E began adding a 10,000 square foot expansion dedicated to the manufacture and development of machine slides. This would bring E&E to 45,000 square feet of facilities.

Sales for 1995 increased by 24% and continued through 1996.

By the end of 1997, E&E Ergonomics Division was established. A veteran team with a combined total of over 50 years experience in ergonomic material handling systems was assembled. This division, with the full support of corporate E&E, has successfully introduced products and systems to the automotive and appliance industries as well as many others.