Greenville Metals Inc history

When the white man first came in 1844 about 150 Indians lived in the northwest portion of what now is the City of Greenville.

The first newspaper, the Montcalm Reflector, was published in 1854 and later became the Greenville Independent.

Greenville’s status as a chartered village ended on March 10, 1871, when it was incorporated as the City of Greenville with its borders extended to include all of Sections 9, 10, 15 and 16 of Eureka Township.

He was the genius of the company and known throughout the United States, especially in the lumber industry, which for so many years has used the Tower Edger and the Tower Trimmer, famous for their simplicity, strength and durability. It was founded as a machine shop in 1874 by Samuel Tower, grandfather of F.E. Tower and Samuel L. Tower of Greenville.

First business in the record of this small factory was sale to the City of Greenville of gas light posts, sale date being October 13, 1875.

They went along until about 1886 when R.J. Tower took over.

Also, about 1893, the company began the manufacture of various items of small sawmill machinery, mainly the Tower Edger and the Tower Trimmer, which machines sold throughout the United States and in numerous foreign countries, and continue in widespread demand to the present time.

A mural of Baldwin Lake and a rare Wright boat motor testify that life was not all work! OUTSIDE, one can stroll through a Victorian Garden on the path made from Greenville’s original 1910 brick streets, relax beside the waterfall or sit in the corn crib gazebo.

Soon after the older son, Charles, started, Frank S. Gibson Jr., the founder’s younger son, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, also began his service to Gibson and to the home of Gibson, Greenville, Michigan. It was Charles J. Gibson, President and Chairman of the Board, who started back in 1911 to follow in his father’s footsteps.

In 1918, at the close of World War I, H.A. Amidon became an operating partner in the company, and continues in his activities.

By 1931, Gibson had become the largest manufacturer of ‘ice boxes’, but with the advent of electrical refrigeration, company officials realized this would soon become an empty distinction.

Over the years many businesses flourished including the Meijer’s store founded by Hendrik Meijer in 1934.

Then came re-conversion and return to manufacture of Gibson electric refrigerators and ranges and the addition in 1946 of a new electric home freezer.

In 1949, after careful study by the Council and Mayor Mumaw, upon recommendation of Michigan Aeronautics Board and with approval of Federal Civil Aeronautics Board, the present site was selected and purchased from Doctor N.M. Green.

Founded in St Louis in 1974, Metal Exchange Corporation has grown from a regional aluminum scrap trading company to a global trader and manufacturer of nonferrous metals.

1977 – MEC opens nonferrous processing facility in Moulton, AL

1978 – MEC acquires interest in Tower Extrusions joint venture in Olney, TX

1980 – Continental Aluminum Company begins operations in Detroit, MI

1983 – Metal Commodities, Inc. begins trading in St Louis, MO

1986 – Pennex Aluminum begins fabrication operations in York, PA

1989 – Electro Cycle, Inc. begins operations in Madisonville, KY

1998 – Pennex doubles its extrusion capacity with the addition of an 8″ press.

1999 – MEC becomes the exclusive sales agent in North America for DUBAL America

2007 – MEC opens a trading office in Zurich, Switzerland

2009 – MEC opens a trading office in Shanghai, China

2010 – Pennex acquires a new extrusion facility in Leetonia, OH

2011 – Pennex, York facility doubles in size to allow for additional fabrication processes

2013 – Pennex acquires a new cast house facility in Greenville, PA