History of Kysor Panel Systems
It is with great pride that we introduce you to our family. Kysor Panel
Systems has a rich history of hard work, dedication, and consistently high
ethical standards. It is these things that have brought us to where we are
today.
Mr. Charles Needham began the company in his garage in 1947. In 1956 he
formed Charles Needham Industries Inc. and purchased the land where our
Haltom City manufacturing plant currently resides. After his death in 1957,
Mrs. Needham kept the family business going with help from her brother Abe
Knifong and son-in-law Richard Miller. Shortly after Mrs. Needham’s death,
Richard Miller became President of Charles Needham Industries Inc. Mr.
Miller’s drive, ambition, and vision took the company to a new level of
profitability. Our current President, David Frase, was one of those original
salesmen that helped Mr. Miller develop Charles Needham Industries into the
recognized industry leader of walk-in coolers and freezers today.
As a well run and profitable business we were courted by larger more
sophisticated public firms. Charles Needham Industries was purchased by
Kysor Industrial Corp. in August 1987 and became known as Kysor//Needham. In
1994, Kysor Industrial Corporation saw an opportunity to increase their
walk-in sales and purchased another family owned business, Kalt
Manufacturing Inc. Kalt was owned and operated by Bud Hewiet. Kalt had
manufacturing facilities in Portland, Oregon and Goodyear, Arizona. We then
became known as Kysor//Kalt.
Seeing the growth of the industry and tremendous opportunity in the east, it
was decided expansion was needed. In early 1996 we opened a brand new
facility in Piney Flats, Tennessee. In 1997, Kysor Industrial Corporation
was sold to Scotsman Industries. Shortly thereafter Scotsman Industries
consolidated Kysor/Needham and Kysor//Kalt and the result was Kysor Panel
Systems.
In August of 1999, food service giant Welbilt Corporation, a wholly owned
entity of Berisford, courted Scotsman Industries for acquisition. The intent
was to create the largest and strongest food service equipment organization
in the world. Shortly after the acquisition, strategic initiatives at
Welbilt ushered in a name change to Enodis Corporation. The intent was to
show that we were now the universal solution for food service and retail
customers.
Although ownership has changed several times since Charles Needham founded
the business, each acquisition has afforded us the opportunity to strengthen
the business and our position in the marketplace. We have experienced
continuous growth, largely due to our unfailing ability to provide a quality
product and unsurpassed customer service.
We feel that Mr. Needham and Mr. Hewiet would take great pride and pleasure
in the fact that we have taken their vision and successfully become the
leading manufacturer of walk-in coolers and freezers in the nation. Kysor
Panel Systems continues to commit itself to manufacturing the best product
possible. |
