In 1913, Portland, Oregon, businessman Charles “C.F.” Swigert saw a need for a local source of steel castings and established the Electric Steel Foundry Company. During the 1920s, the company expanded production to include cast steel alloy products and in 1932, ESCO opened its first stainless steel industrial service center. In 1946, ESCO engineers developed the first two-piece tooth system, dubbed the “R” system. In 1948, the company entered the cable excavator bucket market. Capitalizing on the exploding mining and construction markets after the war, ESCO launched new products and opened additional plants, sales offices, subsidiaries and licensees around the world. Solidifying its position as a leader in design and metallurgy, ESCO patented and launched its award-winning, two-piece Conical™ tooth system. The first European office, in France, was opened in 1962.
In the early 1990s the new SUPER V® tooth system was an instant success and today remains an industry standard. As ESCO approaches its 100th year, the company has added significant aerospace capabilities in Belgium and Slovakia and constructed stateof-the-art facilities in Mexico and China. The SV2® and Whisler Plus™ hammerless locking system continue the ESCO tradition of product innovation – making ESCO the customer’s choice for metal components and wearparts that meet and exceed expectations with quality, value and speed.