If you are planning a visit to Ulbrich please click here for our important COVID-19 guidelines. close Created with Sketch. REQUEST A QUOTE A History Of Ulbrich From aircraft to pacemakers, Ulbrich specialty metals provides the precision you need for any product application. Our proprietary manufacturing process can reach unparalled precision down to .0003” in a variety of customizable alloys. Contact a specialist today. 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s 1920s A young Frederick Christian Ulbrich Sr., who worked as a scrap inspector for United States Steel Company in Donora, Pennsylvania, realizes the steel industry’s need for good quality scrap. With just a few dollars in his pocket, Fred returns to his hometown of Wallingford, Connecticut, and opens a scrap yard named "The Fred Ulbrich Company". 1924 Frederick founded the “Fred Ulbrich” company that eventually became Ulbrich Stainless Steels and Special Metals, Inc. 1927 The first of many expansion moves by Ulbrich occurs in 1927 with an enlargement of the original 600 sq ft building to a 1200 sq ft building. In order to match the rapid growth of the stainless steel industry, Ulbrich decides to increase inventories. Fred Sr. develops an advanced understanding of the metal industry and attends night courses in Metallurgy at Yale University for several years. 1930s The Stock Market Crash of 1929 signals the beginning of the 10-year Great Depression. It represents the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States of America. Ulbrich manages to stay in business amidst dire economic conditions. 1930-1935 Fred Ulbrich Sr. devotes his time and energy into growing his scrap yard business. Fred Sr. is able to turn a profit from the occasional sale of scrap to the nearby Ludlum Corporation and through other business ventures such as operating a chicken coop on the premises. 1936 The Ludlum Corporation merges with the Allegheny Corporation. Due to the merger, Ulbrich could no longer sell scrap metal directly to the company. Fred Sr. pivots and pursues a new stainless steel venture. 1937 At this time, the Wallingford-Meriden area was a national hub for cutlery manufacturing. With his knowledge of stainless steel, Fred Sr. establishes a subsidiary company called "Victory Cutlery Company" manufacturing diner-quality cutlery: knives, forks , and spoons. The items are of high quality, yet inexpensive to produce. 1939 Fred Sr. becomes successful and well known in the Wallingford, Connecticut area as one of the town's most successful businessmen and active member of the local community. Germany invaded Poland, signaling the start of World War II. 1940s At the beginning of World War II, Ulbrich wins a federal government contract to supply stainless steel mess kits (forks, knives and spoons) for the United States Army. Because of the war effort, demand for stainless steel skyrockets. With earnings made his cutlery business, Fred Sr. purchases one of the first Sendzimir Rolling Mills and a slitter machine to precisely manufacture stainless steel strip with various thickness and widths. 1942 Ulbrich fulfills orders more rapidly thanks to the Sendzimir Mill purchase. This new rolling mill technology gives the company the capability to convert stainless steel and other metal alloys to more exact specifications. Consequently, Ulbrich receives additional contracts, becoming a major supplier of mess kits during the war. 1944 Fred Sr. becomes the Warden of Wallingford on January 1, 1944. He is re-elected twice, each time winning by more votes than the previous election. As a pro-business Democrat, one of his major accomplishments is paving roads with real asphalt in the “Shupeck” district on the west side of town. 1946-1949 After World War II, the company expands its cutlery business, offering two distinct products: one being a continuation of the low-cost, diner-grade cutlery, and the other, a high-end line of stainless steel carving knives with elk horn handles, sold in New York department stores. Ulbrich is now four times its original size and its manufacturing facility, now a 2500 sq. ft. building. Fred Sr. and his wife Ada have a growing family of three sons and one daughter. Fred Ulbrich Jr. begins his career at the company as a factory worker. 1950s The company thrives during this time period. Applications for stainless steel multiplies. Fred Sr. has the knowledge, experience and the technology needed to fill an important industry niche. Large "melt mills" such as US Steel sell stainless steel strip on 10,000 pound coils, far too much for small manufacturers to keep in their inventory. Fred Sr. plans to buy these large coils in various gauges (thickness) and to slit them to narrow widths. Customers are able to order quantities of stainless strip as small as 10 pounds with precise specifications. In only three years, sales jump from $102,000 to $425,000. 1955 Re-rolling and slitting strip metal is now the focus of the Ulbrich's enterprise. The cutlery business is sold and a new, more powerful Sendzimer mill is purchased. The unique design of this 20-high cluster mill enables Ulbrich to roll strip to gauges that are unheard of at the time (down to 0.005 inches thick) while retaining the desired flatness of the strip. 1957-1959 The response from customers is so favorable that Ulbrich invests in two 4-high rolling mills to handle greater demand. Total sales increases to an average of $1.3 million per year. 1960s Nickel-based alloys are added to the product mix as Ulbrich makes a bid to supply the booming aircraft and aerospace industries. Inventories include 20 alloys of stainless steel, and over 40 types of special metals — totaling a constant inventory of over 5 million pounds. Richard (Dick) and Daniel Ulbrich, sons of Fred Sr. enter the business. 1963 The company invests a full year of profit into a testing laboratory in order to qualify as a supplier for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft. After Ulbrich earns approval as a certified supplier, the company earns the business of Boeing, North American Aviation, Rohr, and other subcontractors. Ulbrich is selected as a supplier to the Air Force’s B70 Bomber project. This requires the company to roll extremely small gauges, down to .001 of an inch. 1964-1968 Through the publication of monthly newsletters and the development of an in-house sales team led by Fred Ulbrich Jr., major original equipment manufacturers (OEM's) begin to respond to Ulbrich's quality and versatility. Ulbrich earns the moniker as “The Biggest Little Mill in the Country” and seeks to expand operations. A national distribution network is needed to service the company's nation-wide customer base. Ulbrich of Illinois, located in Alsip, is founded in 1968 as Ulbrich's first stainless steel strip service center. 1969 Neil Armstrong walks on the Moon. NASA's Apollo 11 spacecraft is built using state-of-the-art technology and various metal components rolled by Ulbrich. The company is incorporated and renamed "Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc. 1970s Fred Ulbrich Sr. transfers ownership of the company to his three sons, Fred Jr., Dick, and Dan. Ownership reinvests into the business by modernizing the production facilities and increasing capabilities and capacity. Significant new equipment additions are made to improve quality and to roll even smaller gauges. The company earns over $10 million in annual sales, boasts 60 employees working 3 shifts, and offers over 50 different types of metal alloys. 1974 Ulbrich celebrates its 50th anniversary. 1975 Fred Ulbrich Sr. passes away. His purpose in life was to do the best in everything he did, and he accomplished that. Fred Sr. loved people, most of all his co-workers and their families. 1980s Fred Jr. and brother Dick set a target of $100 million in sales by 1990, and they set in motion plans to reach that goal. They decide to reinvest all corporate profits into new capital expansion programs. Ulbrich breaks into international markets and new economic sectors. 1982 A 100,000 square foot building is erected next to the main plant on Route 5 (South Colony Road) in Wallingford, Connecticut. A regional service center, Ulbrich of New England, is created to more readily service customers. After a series of strategic meetings, company management introduces the "Ulbrich Revolution". Already known for its excellent quality, Ulbrich sets the bar higher by emphasizing the quality, customer commitment and professional development. 1983 A service center designated Ulbrich of Georgia is established near Atlanta to service South and Mid-Atlantic states. 1986 On September 19th, a fourth service center in Fresno, Ulbrich of California is opened, supplying coverage to the Western, and South Western markets. 1989 Thanks to expansion and a larger footprint throughout the United States, Ulbrich services of several industrial and consumer markets including automotive, aircraft, aerospace, medical, electronic, and power generation. Sales reach $100 million. 1990s Customers seek more specialized products that are more challenging to produce. Ulbrich responds by upgrading its operational capabilities and even greater focus on improving quality. Habitual meetings between machine operators, supervisors, and managers are held on a regular basis. A new company philosophy emerges in the form of these Four Tenets: Total Customer Responsiveness, Total Company Involvement, Total Quality Commitment, and Continuous Professional Development. 1993 Ownership and top management embark on an initiative to increase international sales. Partnerships in France, Japan, and China are brokered. Ulbrich purchases Aerodyne Alloys in Hartford, Connecticut to broaden the company’s product line into stainless and nickel alloy bar, sheet, and plate. 1997 Titanium-based becomes an important element of Ulbrich’s product offering. Ulbrich acquires Diversified Stainless of Canada, with facilities in Toronto and Montreal. 1998 The third generation of the Ulbrich family takes the helm with the appointment of Chris Ulbrich as President. A new stainless steel service center is founded in Queretéro, Mexico to supply Central and South American markets. Meanwhile, Ulbrich of Illinois celebrates its 30th year in business. Sales reached $250 million a year. 1999 Ulbrich marks its 75th Anniversary with over 600 employees and 18 facilities in four countries. At the time, Ulbrich is buying over 140 alloys from various melting sources in order to maintain their commitment to customers and quick delivery. 2000s Ulbrich acquires Steel Heddle, and transforms the business into a flat wire division - Ulbrich Precision Flat Wire, located in South Carolina. The manufacturing facility expands Ulbrich's capabilities to produce fine wire for the medical industry and Photovoltaic Ribbon to the solar industry. 2002 Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals Ltd., Shanghai representative office, opened in China. Ulbrich Precision Metals Ltd., located in Ireland, is created and equipped to handle supplying fine wire to the medical industry in Ireland, and the EU. 2005 Ulbrich acquires Delta Precision Alloys whose capabilities in ultra fine wire and plating enhanced the product offerings for the Ulbrich Specialty Wire Group. Ulbrich then opened another company and facility for the precision flat wire product, Ulbrich of Austria. 2006 Ulbrich Specialty Strip Mill adds a 12,000 square foot expansion to house a new ultralight foil, including a rolling mill, annealing line and slitter capable of processing stainless steel and special metal to gauges less than .0004 of an inch. 2007 Ulbrich Asia metals, a service center/trading company is opened in Hong Kong to supply the growing demand for strip products in Asia. 2009 Ulbrich becomes a global manufacturer of shaped and flat wire, with five facilities located in the major markets throughout the world. Ulbrich suffers first annual loss in 20 years due to Global Financial Crisis, but the company withstands the downturn. 2010s Ulbrich continues into the family's fourth generation with over 700 employees, 12 international locations, and annual sales grow to $300 million. A new Corporate Headquarters is established in North Haven, Connecticut. Manufacturing precision strip and wire remains the main focus. 2011 Ulbrich Precision Special Metals (Suzhou) Co. opens in Jiangsu, China, providing stainless steel and special metals strip. Ulbrich Asia Metals Malaysia opens in Penang, Malaysia, offering a new Precision Coil Center specializing in light gauge stainless steel and special metals strip. 2013 Ulbrich Specialty Wire Products expands into the High Performance Cable market. Ulbrich Shaped Wire runs its first production of the new Fuhr Shaping Mill, expanding its business in the wedge wire market. 2014 As the company celebrates its 90th anniversary, three members of the fourth generation are employed in the family business. During this year, Ulbrich establishes its commercial strategy as being a development partner and supply chain partner. 2015 The Fred Ulbrich Memorial Fund is established to honor and continue the philanthropic work of the late Fred Ulbrich Jr. The fund supports youth development organizations and initiatives in the Wallingford community. 2016 Ulbrich announces the opening of a new sales office in Fresno, California, to better serve the West Coast. The following month, Ulbrich Shaped Wire completes construction of a 17,000 square foot warehouse. In October, Ulbrich of Illinois installs its ninth and most versatile slitting machine yet; the new 24” Stanat Slitter. 2016 In an effort to unify Ulbrich’s community outreach programs and events that employees have championed over the years, the Ulbrich Community Outreach Team is formed. Ulbrich fully commits to the “Lean Philosophy” by completing over 600 A3s in 2016. 2017 Ulbrich closes the year having sold 162 different alloys to customers in 46 countries. The Ulbrich family commits $80 million in capital expenditures to further support the business in its endless effort to exceed customer expectations. 2018 Ulbrich of Illinois celebrates its 50th anniversary as one of the metal industry's most effective service centers. Diversified Ulbrich Toronto opens a new facility. Diversified Ulbrich is more than ready for a new business location as they have been located in the same facility in Downsview for over forty years, with limited space for showcasing their newest product lines. This additional space, including six additional loading docks, will add increased functionality, allowing orders to be filled and delivered faster. Also in 2018, two divisions reached important milestones - Ulbrich of Illinois celebrates its 50th anniversary, while Ulbrinox (Mexico) passes the 20 year mark in operation. 2019 On October 9, 2019, Ulbrich Steel is named as the “Best Place to Work in Central Connecticut” at the Record Journal’s Readers’ Choice Awards ceremony. 2020s Ulbrich quickly adapts to new ways of working in order to keep employees safer as the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the world. A new high-tech advanced rolling mill is added at USSM as part of Ulbrich’s commitment to continuous improvement initiatives. LATEST ULBRICH NEWS CORONAVIRUS UPDATE ECONOMIC UPDATE COMPANY NEWS STAINLESS STEEL SPECIAL METALS MANUFACTURING INSIGHTS VIEW ALL ARTICLES Dec 01 Chris Ulbrich Discusses the “Reemergence of Manufacturing” on PWC CT Panel Chris Ulbrich, Chairman and CEO of Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc. recently served as one of the panelists for the Professional Women in Construction (PWC) Connecticut Chapter “The Re-Emergence of Manufacturing in Southern New England” virtual program held on October 26, 2021. He was... Continue Reading Nov 22 What are the Most Common Forms of Metal Corrosion? Corrosion is a natural phenomenon that affects nearly all metal objects we use in our everyday lives. Automobiles, aircraft, medical instruments, buildings, infrastructure, appliances, and energy distribution systems are all comprised of metal, and thus all of them can corrode. We’ve all had that ... 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