Home 800-872-6899 0 Items PRODUCTS TRADESHOWS NEWS ABOUT CUSTOMER APPLICATION CONTACT 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. 1882 BRUNNER & LAY FOUNDED Edward Brunner & Severin Lay open small blacksmith shop forging tools used in making sculptures, monuments, and building stones. 1900 EXPANSION INTO PNEUMATIC TOOLS Brunner & Lay expands into accessories for pneumatic tools used in construction and stone industries. Polk Street Plant. 1913 SEVERIN LAY RETIRES Severin Lay retires and sells interest to Edward Brunner. 1930 DEPRESSION B&L survives and continues to provide employment by making tools for the WPA. 1934 FRED G. BRUNNER TAKES OVER COMPANY LEAD Fred G. Brunner assumes responsibilities of the company upon the death of his father, Edward. 1936 B&L MOVES TO NEW CHICAGO LOCATION B&L moves to larger quarters in Chicago (727 South Jefferson) and begins manufacturing of drilling accessories. 1941 B&L SUPPORTS WORLD WAR II EFFORTS 1941-1945 – B&L supported the war effort during World War II, manufacturing tools for the Army Corp of Engineers and Navy. 1945 FRED J. BRUNNER ASSUMES HEAD ROLE Fred J. Brunner succeeds his father in running operations. 1949 CONSTRUCTS A LARGER FACILITY Builds larger facility in Franklin Park, Illinois 1951 ENTERS TUNGSTEN CARBIDE PERCUSSION DRILL BIT MARKET. Brunner & Lay enters the tungsten carbide percussion drill bit market. 1957 BRUNNER CANADA BEGINS Brunner Canada begins manufacturing products in Mississauga for sale and distribution throughout Canada. 1969 PRODUCTION BEGINS IN FT. LAUDERDALE Production begins at new tungsten carbide bit facility in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 1972 PIT CARBURIZING FURNACES BEGIN OPERATIONS Pit carburizing furnaces designed solely for the purpose of carburizing drill steel for construction and mining industries begins operation in Franklin Park. 1977 SPRINGDALE, ARK. FACTORY BEGINS PRODUCTION Factory in Springdale, Ark. begins manufacturing products for sale and distribution throughout the Southwestern and Rocky Mountain States. 1982 BRUNNER & LAY CELEBRATES 100 YEARS Brunner & Lay celebrates its 100-year anniversary. 1987 PURCHASE OF TIMKEN ROCK BIT PLANT Purchased Timken Rock Bit plant in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 1988 F. MICHAEL BRUNNER BECOMES COMPANY PRESIDENT F. Mike Brunner became president in 1988. He is the fourth generation of the Brunner family to oversee the company’s operations. 1992 ACQUIRED PADLEY & VENABLES Acquired a sister company, Padley & Venables, which is located in Sheffield, UK.1992 2004 WAREHOUSE IN KALGOORIE (AUS) OPENS 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. 2007 125-YEAR HISTORY CELEBRATION 2011 FRANKLIN PARK OPERATION CONSOLIDATES WITH SPRINGDALE Franklin Park manufacturing is consolidated with the Springdale facility creating a single source for all Mining and Construction Tools. 2012 NEW SPRINGDALE FACILITY COMPLETED State-of-the-art corporate office and manufacturing facility is completed in Springdale. 2012 WILLIAM M. BRUNNER JOINS THE COMPANY William M. Brunner joins the company. 2015 FLAT ROCK FACILITY Constructed new warehouse and distribution facility in Flat Rock, NC. 2017 135-YEAR HISTORY CELEBRATION 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 Olympic venues worldwide. 2018 Bensenville Facility. Constructed new warehouse and distribution facility in Bensenville, IL. 2019 William M Brunner promoted to Vice President. Will joined the B&L in 2012 and is the 5th generation in the company. ©2020, Brunner & Lay Terms of Use Privacy Policy Return Policy Warranty Policy Customer App English