Category Archive: History

A Peek at Manor Tool’s History

Manor Tool & Manufacturing specializes in metal stamping and deep drawn stamping services with complete prototyping and contract manufacturing capabilities, along with design, engineering, and custom tooling. Our secondary machining options include brazing, deburring, heat treatment, plating, painting, soldering, packaging, powder coating, and more. We’re proud to offer all the services our clients need to complete their most demanding projects, but we didn’t start here.

Our experience in this industry goes back decades, from when we first opened our doors in 1959 as a local tool and die shop. Even though a lot has changed since then, our focus on high-quality products and outstanding customer service has stayed the same, and it’s allowed us to expand to offer the range of services we do today. Take a closer look at how we’ve established ourselves as an industry leader in metal stamping.

Travel Through Time With Our Infographic!

How can you sum up six decades of service? Our long, rich history is broken down into key milestones and highlights in our new infographic: The History of Manor Tool & Manufacturing. As you click through the timeline, you’ll learn more about the three generations that have worked to make this family-owned company what it is today, how we’ve innovated to serve our clients over 60 years and counting, and how we’re poised to grow:

  • We were founded in 1959 by Lee Simeone. After honing his skills in the post-World War II industrial boom, Simeone was prepared to start his own company near Chicago—which is still our headquarters today.
  • Lee’s son, Tom Simeone, joined the team and was eventually promoted to President with Lee’s son-in-law, Ken Galeno, as Vice President.
  • We continued to expand our 32-press facility with a 400-ton stamping press, a 330-ton Servo press, and an automated robotic production cell to better serve our clients.
  • We acquired Vogel Tool for tubular part fabrication, extending our reach and expertise.
  • We created CLL Engineering for tube fabrication tools and gasket dies.
  • In 2019, we celebrated our 60th anniversary, and we’re looking forward to the next 60 years and beyond.

What started as a small tool and die shop is now a state-of-the-art facility serving companies in diverse industries, like aerospace, original equipment manufacturing, oil and gas, energy, medical and healthcare, telecommunications, construction, and more. With continued innovation, long-term customer relationships, and a commitment to service, we’re ready to take metal stamping to the next level in the years we have ahead of us. We can’t wait to see how the trends in metal stamping evolve, and we look forward to leading the way with cost-effective solutions. From prototyping and small production runs to high-volume runs and repeat orders, we have the equipment, the partnerships, and the experienced team you need to handle projects of all sizes and complexities.

Get to Know Manor Tool

To know our history is to know us, because it’s full of diverse projects, happy clients, and evidence of our highest values. Our longevity is a testament to our high-quality work and commitment to customer satisfaction. Check out our brand new timeline today and click to see how far we’ve come—and how much further we can go! We’re proud to share our story with you, and we hope you’ll be a part of our timeline in the 60 years to come.

 

Chicago: The City of Manufacturing

For more than 60 years, Manor Tool & Manufacturing has provided exceptional metal stamping, fabrication, and assembly services. Founded by Lee Simeone, this family business has grown from a small shop into a 32-press facility, offering a wide range of services, including design and engineering, tool and die fabrication, deep draw stamping, custom tooling, secondary machining, finishing, and more. Now under the leadership of Lee’s son and son-in-law, Manor Tool serves clients all over the country from its home in Chicago.

The Windy City is the place to be when it comes to manufacturing. It’s at the top of metal, food, and plastics manufacturing, and about half a million people in Chicago are working in the industry. The central location and commitment to growth and technological advancement make it an exciting place to pursue a manufacturing career.

Chicago’s History in Manufacturing

The discovery of lead in Galena kick-started the area’s industrial boom in 1823, and much of the following innovation and production was driven by agricultural needs. In the following two decades, “…risk receptive, visionary, creative, deal-making businessmen and women were busy making Chicago work.” An entrepreneurial spirit took hold and set the stage for rapid growth between 1850 and 1920, which established Chicago as an industry leader throughout the 20th century.

In the eight years following 1939, Illinois manufacturing went from a $2.1 billion industry to $6.68 billion. From steel mills, refineries, and slaughterhouses to steel and brass rolling and the production of rail cars, watches, aluminum, machine tools, glass bottles, and more—it was all happening in the Chicago area. Telephone and communication manufacturing began in Chicago, and mobile devices are still being produced here today.

Is Chicago a Good City for Manufacturing?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chicago’s manufacturers rose to meet the growing demand for specific products, taking advantage of existing capabilities and pivoting to adopt new ones. The city has the second-highest number of manufacturers in the country, and with its central location it was uniquely equipped to manage demand.

Production shows no sign of slowing in a post-pandemic world. There are 10,000 manufacturing jobs currently open in the area, and the city is well-equipped to train and prepare the next generation of manufacturers. With world-class universities and the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, which offers hands-on manufacturing training, Chicago is ripe with opportunity for those who are interested in a rewarding career.

Made in Chicago

The city government recognizes the impact and potential of Chicago manufacturing, and the Made in Chicago initiative is designed to promote our local manufacturers and the products they make. From cars and food products to building supplies, beauty products, packaging, furniture, tools, clothing, and more, this city is the birthplace for many of the items people and companies use on a daily basis throughout the country and around the world.

Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA)

Other organizations have emerged to help draw awareness to the industry, promote cooperation among professionals, and highlight the potential career path that awaits Chicago’s young people. Manor Tool’s own president, Tom Simeone, is on the Board of Directors of the Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA), which was founded in 1925 to encourage company owners to work together to advance the industry.

Manufacturing Renaissance

Meanwhile, Manufacturing Renaissance is leading the way with a variety of programs and organizations designed to help teenagers discover the industry and advance young adults through effective training programs. These organizations include Manufacturing Connect (MC), the Young Manufacturers Association (YMA), and the Instructors Apprenticeship for Advanced Manufacturing (IAAM).

Chicago has long proven itself as an industrial center, and organizations like these—and the dedicated people behind them—ensure the city will remain a leader in manufacturing for decades to come.

Manor Tool: Serving Chicago & Beyond Since 1959

Manor Tool is proud to be a Chicago manufacturer. As part of both the city’s rich history and bright future, we’re dedicated to providing high-quality metal stamping and fabrication as well as an exciting workplace with competitive pay, advancement opportunities, and all the training and support you need to create a fulfilling lifelong career in the industry.

Learn more about our company by visiting or blog or downloading our eBooks, then take a look at our careers page for a list of available positions. If you’re curious about a manufacturing career in Chicago, contact us or apply today. We look forward to hearing from you!

Manor Tool: 60 Years in Metal Stamping Excellence

After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps in 1945, Lee Simeone, like so many other young men, found work in America’s booming industrial sector. At the time, the United States was undergoing exponential economic growth as it operated under the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe. Simeone found work making tools and dies, rising through the ranks of local plants in the Chicago area until, in 1959, he decided to found his own company.

Thus, the Manor Tool & Manufacturing Company was born. Simeone made a $9,000 down payment on a facility in Schiller Park, IL, from which our company grew into the expansive metal stamping, fabricating, and part assembly powerhouse it is today.

After leading the company for 36 years, Lee Simeone went into semiretirement in 1995. He promoted his son, Thomas Simeone, and son-in-law, Ken Galeno, to take on the mantles of president and vice president, respectively. Under the leadership of Simeone and Galeno, Manor Tool has grown to a 32-press facility, offering a full range of services including:

  • Design and engineering
  • Tool and die fabrication
  • Metal stamping
  • Deep-draw stamping
  • Custom tooling and fabrication
  • Secondary machining and finishing services

    

Company History and Accomplishments

Since 2000, we’ve upgraded our production department to include a 400-ton stamping press, a 330-ton Servo press, and an automated robotic production cell to complement our 32 stamping presses. But one thing that’s never changed is our proud tradition as an independent, family-owned company.

For this reason, we’ve spent the last number of years investing in our employees, putting future technology, equipment, and leadership directly into the hands of the people who have helped us come so far. We’ve also spent the last 11 years expanding our footprint across Illinois, acquiring Vogel Tool in 2008 and creating CLL Engineering in 2011 to produce tube fabricating tools and gasket dies, respectively.

Manor Tool also seeks to cement its place as a community resource to both the manufacturing world and to our neighbors in Illinois. Many of our employees count themselves as members of the Technology and Manufacturing Association, which is one of the largest associations of its type with accomplishments dating back to 1925. We also partner with local high schools and community colleges to sponsor shop classes and other training programs for the next generation of manufacturers.

Preparing For the Next 60 Years of Success

We at Manor Tool and Manufacturing are proud of our achievements in the metal stamping industry from the last 60 years, and we seek to build on these successes so that we could provide customers with innovating metal stamping solutions far into the future.

If you would like to learn about our offerings at any of our divisions, contact us and request a free quote today.

 

A History of Metal Stamping in Chicago

Hog Butcher for the World,
Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat,
Player with Railroads and the Nation’s Freight Handler.

Carl Sandburg

For nearly six decades, Manor Tool and Manufacturing Company has been providing our hometown of Chicago with the finest metal stamping services in the Midwest. We’re proud to be regarded as a pillar of the city’s manufacturing industry, and we look forward to promoting industry in Chicago for years to come.

Chicago has long been founded on heavy industry. Since its founding as a small trading post at the foot of Lake Michigan, the city has evolved into one of the world’s industrial powerhouses. Even today, Chicago’s manufacturers remain essential to the American economy, supplying the country with everything from construction equipment to medical devices. As proud Chicagoans ourselves, we wanted to take a moment to walk through the history of manufacturing in our city and the metal stamping that underlies so much of it.

The Early Years

Chicago became a center of American industry in large part because of its location. Thanks to the portage between the Chicago and Des PlainesRivers, Chicago connected the Great Lakes with the Mississippi River and its many tributaries, effectively providing access to the entire interior of North America before railroads connected it to the rest of the country.

The young United States recognized Chicago’s importance early in its history, with American settlers first arriving in the area in the early nineteenth century. Agriculture soon followed, along with the first iron foundry in the state of Illinois.

1830s: A Center of Running Waters

The completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 transformed Chicago. By connecting the Hudson River to the Great Lakes, it created a direct water route between the major ports of the east with the rapidly growing Midwest. The Chicago Portage offered the Canal’s users direct access to the heartland and Chicago soon became the primary destination for the country’s grain, iron, and produce.

Because it still necessitated some overland travel, however, the Portage was not perfect. To further simplify transportation between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi, Chicago began construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in 1836. With its completion in 1848, the city effectively controlled all traffic between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi, making it the center of American transportation.

1850s: The Rise of the Railroads

The coming of the railroads ensured that Chicago would continue to command a powerful influence over American transportation. Major railroads from the East Coast terminated in Chicago, while the primary routes to the West Coast originated in the city. With access to nearly any market in the country, farms and mills across the Midwest began shipping their goods to Chicago en masse, while plants and factories began to appear in the heart of the city.

By 1900, Chicago had become the world’s fifth-largest city and the country’s leading manufacturer of foundry and machine-shop products. Industries such as meatpacking, iron, national retailing, furniture, tobacco, and lumber grew rapidly, as Chicago began to dominate the Midwest and rival New York in economic importance.

The Twentieth Century

1900 – 1940: The Might of Metal Fabrication

Connected by land and sea to the entire county, Chicagoland became the center of heavy industry in the United States in the early twentieth century. The region’s lumber mills and slaughterhouses were soon joined by large-scale electrical industry, iron and steel mills, machine shops and foundries on the South and Southeast Sides. Small and medium-sized family-owned firms found on the West and North Sides contributed significantly to this economic growth.

Among those companies was Vogel Tool & Die. Founded in 1934 by Julius Vogel, the company obtained a patent for a punch and die pipe-notching process that enabled it to distinguish itself from other metalworkers in the region. 75 years later, Vogel Tool & Die joined the Manor Tool family.

1941 – 1945: Leading the War Effort

After years of hardship during the Great Depression, World War II revived heavy industry in Chicago, which became a major contributor to the war effort. The 1,400 companies based in and around the city produced everything from field rations to missiles for the Allied forces, while the area’s aviation plants supplied it with engines, aluminum sheeting, and parts.

Chicago also played a decisive role in the development of nuclear technology. After years of research, a team of physicists led by Enrico Fermi constructed the first nuclear reactor at the University of Chicago. With the secrets of nuclear fission understood, the US soon produced the atomic bomb that helped end the war. 

1946 – 1949: After the War

Manufacturing in Chicago continued to thrive after the war, with output jumping to $6.68 billion by 1947. Local companies such as Zenith, Motorola, and Western Electric began to produce televisions, electronics, and other newfangled consumer goods. All of these companies depended on metal produced by Chicago’s metalworkers.

Other significant products appeared in the Chicago area during these years. Constructed in nearby LaGrange, General Motors’ diesel locomotives quickly replaced the nation’s remaining steam engines. Wurlitzers and Bally pinball machines begin to appear in arcades and restaurants alongside Kraft and Wrigley food products.

1950 – 1999: A Changing of the Guard

Buoyed by the thriving economy, Chicago witnessed a surge in local businesses in the mid-twentieth century. Manor Tool is among these companies. After serving in the Marines during World War II, our founder Lee Simeone returned to Chicago to become an apprentice tool and die maker. After gaining valuable experience, Lee opened Manor Tool in 1959 and quickly became a leading provider of metal stamping services to Chicago’s many manufacturers.

However, international economic developments soon took their toll on manufacturing in the Chicago area. Foreign manufacturers began marketing everything from cars to televisions to American consumers, causing many American manufacturers to tighten production.

By the 1970s, many companies formerly based in Chicago had relocated elsewhere to reduce their labor costs. Other companies in the area began outsourcing their jobs to rapidly developing countries such as China and India, a trend that continued for the rest of the century.

2000 to the Present: A Rebirth

After years of declining output, American manufacturing has experienced a revival since the turn of the millennium. With rising concerns over IP theft, quality control, supply chain management, and environmental sustainability, many American companies have begun to return offshored jobs to the United States.

Chicago’s metal stamping industry has benefited significantly from this revival. In recent years, the city has once again become the center of American industry, with companies of all sizes moving into Chicagoland. Similarly, the state of Illinois has become the largest exporting state in the Midwest and the fifth-largest in the country. As American businesses continue to embrace reshoring, this growth will likely continue for years to come.

A Mainstay of Chicago Industry

Industry in Chicago has changed dramatically over the years. At Manor Tool, we’ve witnessed many of those changes firsthand. Throughout our history, we’ve taken advantage of the booms and persevered through the busts by maintaining close relationships with our customers and pursuing innovation wherever we can. We’re proud to know that we’ve played a part in the history of manufacturing and metal stamping in Chicago, and we’re eager to improve its future however we can.

From sponsoring spring break internship programs for high school students to supporting the University of Illinois’ Senior Engineering Project program, Manor Tool constantly works to raise awareness of the proud history of industry in Chicago and create opportunities for the next generation of manufacturing professionals. If you’d like to learn more about our commitment to the Chicago metal stamping and manufacturing industries, contact us today.

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Ford’s Advanced Prototyping: The Future of Metal Stamping

A long time ago, blacksmiths performed the most basic metal stamping with blows of a hammer. Since then, metal stamping has grown infinitely more advanced. Stamping is a truly integral part of the production process today, and plays a large role in a number of industries. Innovation in technology and automation has improved the metal stamping process in exciting leaps and bounds. One of those innovations is Ford’s advanced prototyping.

In the past, it took between 6-8 weeks for Ford to produce a die to stamp a part for a prototype. Thanks to their revolutionary new system, however, that process now only takes mere hours.

Klein1In this process, Ford’s designers create three-dimensional CAD drawings which are then sent to a machine that uses a pair of robotic arms to bend and weld the material into shape. The arms bend and shape a piece of two-dimensional sheet metal into a three-dimensional object, creating a one-off part in as little as a few hours. It’s a truly advanced manufacturing process that has never been done before.

While the process is—by industry standards—lightning fast, it has been years in the making. The engineers at Ford had a vision and a goal of what could be done, and progressed toward that goal over the years using innovation and advanced technology. After significant research and testing, it became what it is today—a perfect example of the current state of American manufacturing.

This technology only exists at Ford right now, and the possibility of using it for mass production is still years away. Yet it has a number of implications it has for the future. Ford’s advanced prototyping has paved the way for other applications and industries, creating true potential for metal stamping down the line. We can’t wait to see what kind of changes this new technology will bring to the industry.

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