industrial

LeFiell Company is one of the world’s top manufacturers of overhead rail systems, and meat processing and slaughterhouse equipment. Our 98 years in the meat business combined with a top design and project management team is second to none.  We are a Total Quality Manufacturer dedicated to the success of our customers.

History

The LeFiell Company was originally incorporated in 1910 as John’s Hanger Company, in San Francisco, manufacturing parlor door hangers. In 1917 it was acquired by Mr. A. E. LeFiell and given its present name, LeFiell Company. As the city of San Francisco rebuilt following the 1906 earthquake, the demand for food and food processing machinery grew with it. LeFiell’s expertise in parlor door hangers was easily adaptable to the meat industry’s overhead rail system needs. Until this point, the equipment had to be purchased in Chicago and shipped west via rail. LeFiell was now in the meat industry.

In the late 1920’s LeFiell began to establish its dominance in the meat industry when it designed and patented the first prefabricated overhead rail switches. This innovation solved major material handling problem for butchers and brought national attention to LeFiell Company.  During WWII LeFiell Company was called upon by the U.S. Navy to provide shipboard meat storage equipment and portable slaughterhouses, further developing LeFiell’s expertise.

In 1961, the Schmidt family, owners of Cincinnati Butcher’s Supply Company acquired LeFiell. LeFiell became part of the industry’s largest manufacturer of meat processing machinery dating back to 1886. Baldwin S. Schmidt later acquired the company from his family, and elevated LeFiell to an international level. Under Mr. Schmidt’s guidance, the company continued to grow, developed several innovative products, and in 1994 moved the company to its present home in Reno, Nevada. In 2010, LeFiell Company will celebrate its centennial.

Today, LeFiell is a precision engineering and fabrication company with a wealth of knowledge and experience steeped in tradition. The LeFiell Company meat processing equipment is still the industry leader, while new industries such as warehouse material handling, industrial laundry transport and industrial painting have discovered the LeFiell advantage. Custom fabricating jobs have been designed and built by LeFiell’s highly skilled team.