NIBCO | About | NIBCO History

  • News

    • COVID-19: An Important Message to our Customers

      3/17/2020 12:00:00 AM

      COVID-19: An Important Message for our Customers 2020-03-17 As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to  escalate, we want to share with you  that NIBCO remains open  for business  and we  are  committed  to serving  you, our customers, during this time.      The  health and 

    • NIBCO® PressG™: A Game Changer for Gas and Compressed Air

      1/31/2020 12:00:00 AM

      NIBCO® PressG™: A Game Changer for Gas and Compressed Air 2020-01-31 ELKHART, Ind. — (January 31, 2020) NIBCO INC. launches PressG™ fittings, a new line of joining solutions designed and engineered for use in copper tube systems primarily for gas and compressed air applications. PressG, saves t

    • NIBCO Introduces a New High Performance Line of Ball Valves

      1/28/2020 12:00:00 AM

      NIBCO Introduces a New High Performance Line of Ball Valves 2020-01-28 ELKHART, Ind. — (January 28, 2020) NIBCO INC. introduces its 585HP (High Performance) Bronze Ball Valves, representing a giant leap in innovation in the ball valve market. Designed for commercial and industrial applications, the lea

  • NIBCO History

    Four Generations

    NIBCO has a manufacturing history spanning over a century and is positioned for growth under its fifth generation of family leadership and employee ownership. Over the years, NIBCO has survived and thrived during the toughest economic times – a testament to exceptional product quality and adherence to its core values: Safety, Integrity, Teamwork, Continuous Improvement and Philanthropy. Our accomplishments include significant industry milestones making NIBCO a leader in the flow control business..


  • Rex Martin ( 1986 - Present)

    Chairman

    • Rex Martin, son of Lee Martin, began his NIBCO career in 1975. served as president from 1986 - 2005; president and CEO from 1992 to 2018; elected chairman in 1995.
    • Brought NIBCO into a whole new market segment—the retail segment—a major market for NIBCO for the past 30 years.
    • Expanded into PEX plumbing with the acquisition of a manufacturer in Lebanon, Ohio in 2005.
    • Began the company's lean journey in 2004 to keep manufacturing in the United States. 
    • Achieved first successful implementation of SAP in the United States in 1998 which enabled the launch of several websites, advanced utilization of Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI), and the introduction of a customer self-service website NIBCOpartner.com. 
    • In 1996, NIBCO doubled the size of its World Headquarters building to 100,000 square feet in Elkhart.
    • Entered the European market by building a plastic pipe and fittings plant in Lodz, Poland, in 1992. 
    • Consolidated three copper fitting manufacturing plants into one highly efficient plant in Stuarts Draft, Virginia – the most automated copper manufacturing plant in the world.
    • Expanded production into Reynosa, Mexico, by building a valve plant in 1986. 
     

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    Lee Martin (1957 - 1986)

    • Lee Martin, son of Ross Martin, became NIBCO's 3rd president in 1957 and remained as C.E.O. until 1986.
    • NIBCO entered bronze and iron valve business in 1963.
    • NIBCO built or acquired manufacturing plants in Nacogdoches, Texas; Blytheville and Augusta, Ark.; South Glens Falls, N.Y.; and Elkhart, Ind.
    • NIBCO entered emerging plastic fittings market in 1968 and built its first plastic fittings manufacturing plant in Goshen, Ind.
    • Construction of new corporate office building in 1977, purchased first computer systems, opened company-owned distribution centers, and developed first corporate image program and branding.
    • NIBCO associates grew to 2,514.

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    Ross Martin (1927 - 1957)

    • Ross Martin, Schweitzer's son-in-law, became the 7th employee in 1919. He was named NIBCO's president in 1927.
    • Ross Martin first introduced the concept of employee ownership at NIBCO in 1924. This was a very revolutionary idea at the time, and continues to be an important part of NIBCO's culture today.
    • NIBCO's first plumbing fitting was introduced in 1927. It weighed 18 oz. and was made of cast brass.
    • NIBCO introduced wrot copper fittings in 1937 resulting in lower costs and lighter weight fittings.
    • NIBCO employed 269 associates in 1957.

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    Casper Schweitzer (1904 - 1927)

    • Casper Schweitzer founded Northern Indiana Brass Foundry Works in Elkhart, Ind., on Nov. 12, 1904.
    • The company was a job shop foundry, making parts for musical instruments and bronze castings for balancing scale weights.
    • Became Northern Indiana Brass Foundry Company in 1909.
    • In 1922, the company entered the new indoor plumbing market with its copper plumbing products.