Forney Industries is one of America’s oldest family-owned, welding and metal-working-product companies. Founded in 1932, James Forney went into business for himself selling the Forney instant heat soldering iron door to door across the U.S. In the 1930s, Forney introduced the first publicly available arc welder.
Throughout the years, Forney continues to focus on providing the best product mix and personal support services available.
| 1937 | The Forney nationwide sales staff grows and product literature boasts, “There’s a Forney product in every town across the USA.” |
| 1945 | Rural Electric Associations (REA) begins delivery of 230 volt service to farms and ranches. The sales staff procures permission from the REA to climb utility poles to connect welders for demonstrations, and Forney welders add metal repair and tool hardening to farmers’ capabilities. |
| 1949 | Forney moves into offices on LaPorte Avenue in Fort Collins, CO. Sales staff continues to grow and the 500 employees in house are turning out 500 welders a week. |
| 1950’s | The Forney product line grows to include products such as auto generators, battery chargers, more electric welders and welding supplies. A Forney central residential vacuum system and portable vacuum cleaner was soon introduced, as was the “Fornaire,” an easy-to-fly 2-seat airplane designed for the consumer market. |
| 1961 | The Forney Transportation Museum is incorporated as a non-profit charitable organization, to house the astounding assembly of transportation devices accumulated by J.D. over the years. |
| 1963 | Forney switches its focus from welders to metalworking supplies. The product line jumps to 1,400 products from 150 outside suppliers. Forney opens a warehouse in Atlanta. |
| 1986 | Sadly, J.D. Forney passes away after 54 years in the business he created. |
| 1990-2000 | Forney continues to grow as a leading manufacturer and distributor of metalworking and welding products, expanding from $20M in sales at the beginning of the decade to $30M by the end. Additional warehousing is opened in Horseheads, NY. |
| 2011 | Forney Industries purchases a new Warehouse & Distribution Facility, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, adding an additional 60,000 square feet of space, totaling 185,000 square feet. |
| 2015 | Forney Industries relocates their Headquarters to 2057 Vermont Drive, Ft. Collins, CO and moves their warehouse from Horseheads, NY to a larger facility in Tipp City, OH. Some of the biggest product accomplishments this year include introducing 14 welding and plasma cutting machines. This expansion has made the line that much more comprehensive and valuable to the customer. Forney also introduced a complete soldering line that brings nearly 130 new soldering products to the market. This all inclusive line helps customers easily find what they’re looking for with the quality they expect. |
2016 – 2019: Today, we offer over 5,000 products in the DIY, automotive, hardware, HVAC, industrial, and farm and ranch markets. Our sales force services over 20,000 dealer and warehouse accounts across the United States. Our main product lines include welding, personal protective equipment, abrasives and workshop tools. The introduction of Forney Easy Weld machines has changed the game for introductory and beginner welders. New products like the double sided flap disc and curved edge flap disc continue to help customers get the look they desire for their metalworking projects. To find more information on what we’re up to, visit forneyind.com.
Forney Industries has grown to encompass three separate brands: Forney, Industrial Pro, and ForneyHide. The Forney brand has been helping farmers, factories, and do-it-yourselfers build and repair metal since the 1930s. Forney offers value and service with over 80 years of experience. The line of Industrial Pro tools offers superior field-tested performance. Finally, the ForneyHide line offers work and welding gloves with uncompromising fit, form and function. Overall, we are passionate about our customers and their success.
Forney Industries Mission: To be a value added, service oriented, primary distributor providing tailored solutions.
For more information, visit www.forneyind.com or www.askforney.com. Follow us on social media for special promotions, featured products and more!
