Tiffin Metal Products

The facility goes back to November 23, 1903 when it was called The Tiffin Art Metal Company. At that time the products manufactured were stamped ornamental steel ceiling panels such as seen in older commercial structures. These were also used in almost all schools and courthouses in the first quarter of this century.  In 1927 with the advent of motoring, billboards became a fad and Tiffin Art Metal evolved as one of the two main manufacturers of large billboards in the country. This business is still a main stay of our company today.  During the war years, products included military shell casings and barracks fire buckets. In 1942 a major portion of the building burned down but was later rebuilt.  The company was a locally stock owned company until the mid-1950’s, when it was bought by Springfield-Green Industries. By this time, the product line included metal corrugated roofing and down spouting.  The company again changed hands in the early 1960’s. It was purchased by Mid-Continent Manufacturing, a mini-conglomerate.At that time several government contracts were added including components for high reach boom trucks. As this business phased out, a new product line entered – cabs for construction equipment such as cranes. Also, at this time a modular metal cabinet line was added for use primarily in schools.  In 1969, a company named A-T-O absorbed Mid-Continent. The cab business was expanded into the agricultural market and we devoted a large part of our production to cabs for combines.  The name was changed to Hadco-Tiffin in the early 70’s as a subsidiary of Hadco Engineering in Los Angeles, still part of the A-T-O group. The relationship with Hadco brought yet another product line to Tiffin; axles for travel trailers that were manufactured here until 1975. It was then that the agricultural cab markets were expanded.  Later in the 70’s, our name was changed to Tiffin Metal Products and we became a full-fledged division of A-T-O. Shortly thereafter, A-T-O changed its name to Figgie International.  In 1976, Tiffin Metal Products acquired the Sentinel Coin Locker® division from Rohr-Flxible Company, making us one of two U.S. Manufacturers of coin operated lockers in the country.  In 1980, Tiffin Metal Products Company once again became a privately held company; we remain private and under the same control today. Willard P. Heddles, President & CEO is the sole shareholder of the Company.  Early in the 90’s the Company recognized the need for ergonomic tables for assembly and inspection use in industry. The metal cabinet line was discontinued as we then knew it and very quickly evolved into work centers with height and tilt adjustment. Throughout the 90’s that line had grown to be known as Tiffin Systems™.  During this period we also added to our ergonomic product line by developing Work Seats industrial task seating and Work Mats anti-fatigue floor matting. The Company’s license arrangement with the German firm that originally developed the Work Seats system remained in place until June 2005 when it was sold to make room for the expansion of our locker and custom lines. The Company’s current employment is approximately 80 and today we operate in more than 100,000 square feet of buildings. Our new 20,000-square-foot assembly, pack and shipping building increases efficiency and adds capacity to our facility