COMPANY HISTORY
A 100% employee owned company
PNEUMATIC • FILTRATION • ELECTRICAL • HYDRAULIC • LUBRICATION • WELDING
The History Of
J.H. Bennett & Company, Inc.
In 1958 Jack Henry Bennett, a salesman and the President of Racine Hydraulics of Michigan (RHM), founded what today is J.H. Bennett & Company, Inc. In the 1950s, distributors only sold one line of products and due to contractual obligations, RHM could only sell Racine Hydraulics.
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Jack Bennett knew his customers deserved better and in 1958, he, along with 8 other salesmen broke the business norms of the time and founded J.F. Burgess Company. They sold hydraulic AND pneumatic products to better serve their customers.
The Founders'​
Code of Ethics
Be Fair & Honest
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Supply The Best Quality Products & Services
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Develop positive long term relationships with customers
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Create an employee focused environment
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Train employees to become ‘aces’ in their roles
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Continually enhance employee well being
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Utilize new technologies and quality equipment
The Original Founders
Harry Hallock
John "Jack" Henry Bennett
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J.R. "Bob" Burgess Jr.
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Bernays "Woody" Rosenthal
Mort Van Eberstein
Richard "Dick" Smith
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Jack Roughley
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J.R. Burgess Sr.
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*Names Listed From Top/Left to Right
1958
J.F. Burgess Company changes their name to
J.H. Bennett & Company, Inc. during the official incorporation of the company.
1971
JHB moves out of their shared space with RHM due to increased business demand. Moved to Farmington Hills, MI.
1975
JHB establishes an ESOP opening up ownership to all employees. Since 1958, the original founders gradually sold off their shares to other employees.
1980
JHB moves to a new facility in Novi, MI due to increased business demand.
1981
JHB acquires Capwell Distriubtors of Ohio and forms Capwell-Bennett.
1986
Capwell-Bennett becomes J.H. Bennett & Company, Inc - Ohio
1991
JHB purchases an adjacent building to their Novi building due to increased business demands.
1994
JHB acquires W.C. Smith Co. in Grand Rapids, MI and forms Smith-Bennett. Later that year the name changes to J.H. Bennett & Company - Grand Rapids.
1997
JHB acquires Universal Sales in Indianaplois, IN to form J.H. Bennett & Company, Inc. - Indiana.
1997
JHB and Schaltz Fluid Power in Flint, MI form a joint venture company called ICOM1 LLC.
2000
ICOM1 sells 51% of the company to Phyllis Valdez of The Aldez Group, a minority enterprise, to capitalize on commodity management in the Flint, Bay City, and Saginaw area.
2000
JHB-Indiana is sold to B.W. Rogers, Inc. as their product lines more closely aligned to the Indiana Market.
2000
JHB becomes an S Corp, 100% ESOP company to better take care of the employee owners.
2001
JHB relocates to a new facility in Novi, MI due to increased business demand
2002
JHB acquires The Ursem Company in Cleveland, OH and relocates the company to JHB-Ohio
2006
JHB acquires Shaltz Fluid Power's 24.5% stock of ICOM1 to own 49% of the company.