In the early 1940’s engineers Harley Huddle and Vern Baldwin discovered the need for custom cleaning machinery. This discovery turned into a company that was started in Ironton, Ohio. Although the machinery developed was much less complex at this time, innovation was still a top priority with Harley and Vern, as well as with their team of pioneers. Custom engineered equipment led to company growth, and a second plant was opened in Cincinnati, Ohio in the 1950’s. This second plant made transportation to industry much easier.

Over the next 10 years, Harley and Vern developed a reputation for innovative solutions. During that time, for example, Harley had developed patented techniques to wash thousands of aluminum cans per minute. Due to the great success of the can washer the company grew to the point that Mr. Huddle and Mr. Baldwin felt that they couldn’t continue the close contact with each customer that was so important to them. With these growing pains Mr. Huddle and Mr. Baldwin decided to sell the company.

The foundation of designed solutions for industry had been established, and, in 1967, Vern Baldwin founded a new company dedicated to creating part washing solutions for industry. This company was called “Acme-Fab.” A “hands on” company from the start, Acme-Fab has always believed that the best solutions come from solid fundamental design concepts. The Huddle family continued their involvement with Acme-Fab, as Dick Huddle, Harley’s son joined the business in 1970.

By the 80’s, more and more customers were looking for companies who could team with them to integrate machinery and equipment into their production environment. Acme-Fab was that Company.