Founded in 1925, MacLean-Fogg offered one lock nut to North America’s railroads. Through innovative product development and selected acquisitions, the business has grown into a worldwide enterprise with facilities throughout Europe and North America and sales in excess of $1 billion annually.
1925 – John MacLean Sr., former vice president and general manager of the Boss Nut Company, takes advantage of an opportunity to start his own business in locking fasteners. His assets include his own energy and creativity, the Number 1 Lock Nut, his partner, Jack Fogg – a legend in the railroad industry – and his two customers: the Santa Fe Railroad and the Milwaukee Railroad.
1927 – John MacLean Junior joins the MacLean-Fogg Company. His philosophy for the company, which lives today, is “Help the industry, and we will help ourselves. Solve the customer’s problems, at a fair price, and on time.”
1929 – MacLean-Fogg acquired the Water Tight Bolt, which solves severe problems connected with boxcar walls on angle posts by eliminating seepage of water into boxcars. The company bought the invention, marketed it, and continued to improve upon it.
1938 – MacLean invents the Lock Tight Floor Clip and is granted a patent.
1961 – Barry L. MacLean, mechanical engineer, joins the firm. Today, he is responsible for building a successful global business with nearly 3,000 employees, and over 23 locations held tight with a bond of personal integrity and the highest standards of performance.
1964 – Expansion of the fastener division continues with the opening of the plant in Mundelein, Illinois.
1972 – Barry MacLean becomes the new president.
1975 – MacLean-Fogg celebrated 50 years of business.
1976 – MacLean-Fogg continues to expand and diversify with the founding of their Metform Division producing Hot Formed Products. This is the first off site facility built.
1980 – Opening of the Detroit sales office.
1982 – MacLean-Fogg purchases Polymer Technologies in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
1983 – The original focus of the company, the railroad business, is sold.
1984 – MacLean-Fogg acquires Precision Cold Forge and added to Metform in Savanna, Illinois.
1990 – MacLean-Fogg celebrated 65 years in business.
1991 – Ground is broken for a new Polymer plant in Whitewater, Wisconsin.
1995 – MacLean-Fogg celebrated its 70th year in business.
1995 – MacLean-Fogg Company names a new division, MacLean Power Systems, as Continental Electric and Atlas Power are acquired.
1997 – MacLean Maynard is acquired in Chesterfield, Michigan.
1999 –MacLean-Fogg acquires Industrial and Automotive Fasteners of Royal Oak, Michigan, which becomes MacLean Vehicles Systems, Royal Oak (now known as Farmington Hills).
2007 – Barry MacLean is inducted into the National Industrial Fastener Show Hall of Fame – recognized for his leadership and contributions both in the fastener industry and to the greater community.
2008 – The Board of Directors of the MacLean-Fogg Company elects Duncan MacLean to President of MacLean Vehicle Systems.
2008 – The MacLean-Fogg Company announced the purchase of Saegertown Manufacturing Company and Proform Tool Corporation, both located in Saegertown, Pennsylvania. Saegertown Manufacturing Company was a manufacturer of specialized engineered metal components for diverse applications in North America including mining, home construction, and automotive marketplaces. Proform Tool Corporation was a manufacturer of hot and cold metal forged products.
2010 - MacLean-Fogg Company celebrated its 85th Anniversary.
2011 - Barry MacLean celebrated his 50th Anniversary as a MacLean-Fogg employee on August 18th, 2011.
2011 – MacLean Vehicle Systems became MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions – a comprehensive brand shift allowing support of new industries, new technology, and new team members – while proving true to its time-honored heritage of ingenuity.
2012 - MFCS merged its Polymer Technologies Division in Whitewater, WI with Engineered Plastics Corporation in Menomonee Falls, WI to form a new Engineered Plastics Company division of MFCS.
2012 - The Metform division of MFCS opened the new M1 machining plant in Savanna, IL to produce automatic transmission gear blanks for advanced 8 and 9 speed light vehicle transmissions.
2014 - The Buffalo, NY and Cornelius, NC facilities of Curtis Screw, a leader in precision machined parts, join the MacLean-Fogg Component Solutions family of companies.
2015 - MacLean-Fogg Company celebrates 90 years in business.
2015 - Duncan MacLean becomes President of MacLean-Fogg.