618-654-2103

THE HISTORY OF HIGHLAND MACHINE

We've grown quite a bit from our humble beginnings, but some things haven't changed.
1944 →

Claude Miles purchased the machine shop of Basler Electric and Manufacturing from Carl Basler and moved the operation to the corner of 6th and Cypress Streets.

CJ Zimmermann left Wicks Organ and Partners with Miles to form Highland Machine.

A new 6,000 sq ft plant was built on 4 acres of Geisler’s Hill. 16 employees moved into the new building that September.

Edwin M. Frisse joined the firm as a bookkeeper.

← 1946
HM timeline 60s

Claude Miles died and CJ Zimmermann became the sole owner.

Ed Frisse was named company vice president.

← 1951
HM timeline 50s
1956 →

Zimco Metalfab formed and purchased fabrication equipment from Master Mfg in Lichfield. Zimco and Highland Machine operated out of the same building.

HM timeline 55

The company doubled its fabrication capability with sheet metal building expansion.

Highland Machine designed it’s first sealed hydraulic lift for the beauty industry.

← 1962
1963 →

Zimco assets sold to Highland Machine. Highland Machine expanded with 20,000 sq. ft Sheet Metal Fabrication building.

HM timeline 60s

Highland Machine began to manufacture forced hot air hair dryers for beauty salons.

← 1967
1974 →

Edwin M. Frisse was named president of Highland Machine.

The company doubled its fabrication capability with sheet metal building expansion.
← 1975
HM timeline building
1981 →
Frisse became the majority stockholder of Highland Machine.

Highland Machine began offering pre-packaged hydraulic lift unit to ship directly to end user.

← 1986
1991 →

Terry Riffel was named president of Highland Machine.

The company expanded to 135,000 sq. ft with the addition of a 30,000 sq. ft powder coating facility.

← 1994
HM timeline building
2001 →

Bill Sullivan was named president of Highland Machine.

Kanban and Lean methodologies were intoduced to offer customers greater inventory control.
← 2006
2008 →

Highland Machine expanded into large-scale assembly with genset trailer manufacturing.

HM timeline TRAILER

The company introduced Selique – the all-digital hair dryer.

← 2009
2012 →

Highland Machine upgraded to a cyclone-style powder system.

HM timeline POWDER
sheet metal enclosures
sheet metal enclosures
sheet metal enclosures
sheet metal enclosures

Stay up-to-date with Highland Machine

Join our emailing list to receive product updates, company news, blog articles, and more.

700 5th St., Highland, IL 62249 • 618-654-2103 • info@highlandmachine.com
All content copyright © Highland Machine

creative by