Our History
Since our humble beginning as a small blacksmith shop in 1882, Brunner & Lay has grown to include manufacturing plants and warehouses on three different continents. These include seven facilities in the United States, two in Canada, three in Great Britain, one in Germany, and two in Australia. We have played a role in the construction of some of the world’s most famous highways, dams, airfields, mines, quarries, and even national monuments.
Brunner & Lay founded
April 14, 1882
Edward Brunner & Severin Lay open small blacksmith shop forging tools used in making sculptures, monuments, and building stones.
Expansion into pneumatic tools
April 21, 1900
Brunner & Lay expands into accessories for pneumatic tools used in construction and stone industries. Polk Street Plant.
Severin Lay retires
April 25, 1913
Severin Lay retires and sells interest to Edward Brunner.
Depression
April 25, 1930
B&L survives and continues to provide employment by making tools for the WPA.
Fred G. Brunner takes over company lead
April 25, 1934
Fred G. Brunner assumes responsibilities of the company upon the death of his father, Edward.
B&L moves to new Chicago location
April 25, 1936
B&L moves to larger quarters in Chicago (727 South Jefferson) and begins manufacturing of drilling accessories.
B&L supports World War II efforts
April 25, 1941
1941-1945 – B&L supported the war effort during World War II, manufacturing tools for the Army Corp of Engineers and Navy.
Fred J. Brunner assumes head role
April 25, 1945
Fred J. Brunner succeeds his father in running operations.
Constructs a larger facility
April 26, 1949
Builds larger facility in Franklin Park, Illinois
Enters tungsten carbide percussion drill bit market.
April 26, 1951
Brunner & Lay enters the tungsten carbide percussion drill bit market.
Brunner Canada begins
April 27, 1957
Brunner Canada begins manufacturing products in Mississauga for sale and distribution throughout Canada.
Production begins in Ft. Lauderdale
April 27, 1969
Production begins at new tungsten carbide bit facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Pit carburizing furnaces begin operations
April 27, 1972
Pit carburizing furnaces designed solely for the purpose of carburizing drill steel for construction and mining industries begins operation in Franklin Park.
Springdale, Ark. factory begins production
April 27, 1977
Factory in Springdale, Ark. begins manufacturing products for sale and distribution throughout the Southwestern and Rocky Mountain States.
Brunner & Lay celebrates 100 years
April 27, 1982
Brunner & Lay celebrates its 100-year anniversary.
Purchase of Timken Rock Bit plant
April 27, 1987
Purchased Timken Rock Bit plant in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
F. Michael Brunner becomes company president
April 14, 1988
F. Mike Brunner became president in 1988. He is the fourth generation of the Brunner family to oversee the company’s operations.
Acquired Padley & Venables
April 27, 1992
Acquired a sister company, Padley & Venables, which is located in Sheffield, UK.1992
Warehouse in Kalgoorie (AUS) opens
April 14, 2004
Brunner & Lay’s worldwide operations encompass manufacturing plants and warehouses on three different continents. These include seven facilities in the United States, three in Canada, three in Great Britain, one in Germany, and two in Australia,including the warehouse in Kalgoorlie that opened in 2004.
125-year history celebration
January 1, 2007
Franklin Park operation consolidates with Springdale
April 10, 2011
Franklin Park manufacturing is consolidated with the Springdale facility creating a single source for all Mining and Construction Tools.
New Springdale facility completed
April 27, 2012
State-of-the-art corporate office and manufacturing facility is completed in Springdale.
William M. Brunner joins the company
April 27, 2012
William M. Brunner joins the company.
Flat Rock facility
April 27, 2015
Constructed new warehouse and distribution facility in Flat Rock, NC.
135-year history celebration
April 27, 2017
Celebrates 135-year anniversary and continues to pursue the American dream and build our tools in the USA. It is with great pride that the Brunner & Lay organization can point to the many wonderful highways, dams, airfields, mines and quarries, and national monuments that it has shaped. These include, but are not limited to, Mt. Rushmore, Hoover Dam, the Chunnel connecting England and France, the Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado, the Crazy Horse Memorial and
January 1, 2018
Bensenville Facility. Constructed new warehouse and distribution facility in Bensenville, IL.
January 1, 2019
William M Brunner promoted to Vice President. Will joined the B&L in 2012 and is the 5th generation in the company.
140-year history celebration
February 23, 2022