1832 –
- Abel Simonds of Fitchburg, Massachusetts sets out on his own manufacturing scythes and woodworking knives at the age of 20. He served as an apprentice for seven years prior. He is joined with his brother-in-law John Thurston Farwell in this new venture. Because of Farwell’s experience and reputation, the company is originally named J.T. Farwell & Company, the name it would carry until 1851.
1850s – A. Simonds & Company
- Abel Simonds buys out John Thurston Farwell and continues manufacturing on his own under the name of A. Simonds & Company. Over the years, all of Abel’s sons supported the business in some capacity contributing to its renowned reputation and the creation of a strong enterprise.
1900s – Simonds’ Hand Saws (A collector’s item)
- Simonds Manufacturing Co. was a firmly established player in the saw market. Today, a Simonds handsaw is a collector’s item. By 1905, Simonds had one of the first all-electrically operated plants in the United States with its third Fitchburg, MA factory. In January 1906, The Simonds Mfg. Co purchased The Canada Saw Co renaming it Simonds Canada Saw Co.
1930s – First Windowless Factory
- The cornerstone for the Intervale Road factory in Fitchburg, Massachusetts was laid for the world’s first windowless factory. A comprehensive course by which salesmen are fully trained is started in 1935 known as “The Little Red Schoolhouse”. Over the years, Simonds has trained more distributor salespeople than any other industrial products manufacturer.
1940s – Daniel Simonds II takes over..
- Daniel Simonds II takes over as president of the company, as the fourth generation takes over the helm of the company. During WWII, the Steel Mill and Fitchburg plants make armor plates for the Allies. A large amount of the armor plate is used in the nose sections of the allied fighter and bomber airplanes. In addition, cross-cut saws are regulation equipment on all tanks, bombers and assault craft. Ultimately, during the war years, virtually all production at all plants was committed in one way or another to supporting the war effort.
- In 1943 Simonds is awarded the first of five Army-Navy “E” Awards for excellence in service to the country.
1950s & 60s – Some Key Acquisitions
- Simonds acquired Heller Bros, a top manufacturer of hand files in 1955. The combined file businesses of Simonds and Heller were now #2 in the world, second only to Nicholson.
- In 1965, the Simonds family agreed to sell its share of the company to Wallace-Murray Corporation. The combined company was one of the first of the then new industrial conglomerates. By the time Wallace-Murray was acquired by Household International in 1980, Simonds was a very small part of a very large conglomerate. In 1988, senior management along with private investor Greylock Management Co bought the company, returning it to private ownership. The new company was named Simonds Industries Inc.
1980s & 90s – More Acquisitions
- In 1989, The Michigan Knife Company of Big Rapids, Michigan is acquired. Michigan Knife was founded in 1974 and in 15 short years grew significantly through five acquisitions of its own.
- In January of 1992, Simonds purchased Wespa Metallsagenfabrik-Lorenz Wiesel KG of Spangenberg, Germany. This expanded the manufacturing presence into Europe for the first time. Wespa is a manufacturer of carbon and bimetal bandsaw blades, as well as power hacksaw blades.
- In 1992, Red Streak bandsaw blades are introduced which are specifically designed for the portable bandmill market.
- On May 17th, 1993, Simonds receives ISO registration of its Bi-Metal bandsaw quality system, becoming the first bandsaw blade manufacturer in the world to achieve any sort of ISO certification.
- In 1997, Armstrong Manufacturing Co is purchased. Founded in 1902, Armstrong is a major manufacturer of filing room equipment, which is a natural extension of the forest products product range. Today the combined businesses of Simonds and Armstrong make for a formidable force in the sawmill market.
2000s – And Simonds International today
- Simonds enters into a joint venture agreement with Hermacasa in San Pedro Sula, Honduras in 2001, with a 45% ownership to manufacture hand files.
- 2003 – Simonds acquires the International Knife & Saw (IKS) group of companies and Simonds International is born.
- 2010 – Simonds completed an asset purchase of the Wood Products Division of Pacific Hoe, once a manufacturer of cutting tools for the wood products industry. The assets leverage the strength of the company reaffirming its position as the Premier Wood Processing Products company in North America.
- 2012 – Simonds purchases Cal Saw Canada’s Wide Band Saw manufacturing assets and Circular Saw finishing assets located in Langley, BC. This acquisition has enabled Simonds to better serve all customers in the Western Canada saw mill market.
- 2014 – Simonds International announces a split of the corporation into two distinct, separate and focused operating companies. The separation into two distinct businesses enables a sharper management focus on each business to better serve customers and stakeholders. Simonds International serves the Wood Processing industry and Simonds Saw serves the Metal Processing industry.
- 2019 – After merging with BGR Saws, Burton Saw & Supply, and becoming an integral part of Wood Fiber Group, Simonds opens its Saw Filer Vocational Training center in Florence, SC to help the next generation of Saw Filers learn the trade.
- 2021 – Wood Fiber Group (including Simonds International) merges with USNR in a transaction creating the world’s most comprehensive supplier of the equipment, technology, and essential tooling used in modern wood processing facilities. The combined company includes an unprecedented range of technical expertise and capabilities in wood processing technology, from saws and knives to machinery and automation to process engineering and mill flow.
- 2022 – Wood Fiber Group (including Simonds International) adopts the new company name Burton Mill Solutions to better describe the vast range of products and services our organization delivers to wood processing mills and companies. Burton Mill Solutions is established as a DBA under Simonds International in the USA and under Wood Fiber Canada in Canada. The company also begins to leverage its business practice of frequent Territory Manager visits to customer locations to begin to deliver select USNR “off the shelf” items via their trademark “White Trucks” on their routine visits.
Simonds now celebrates more than 190 years of business. With many acquisitions and transformations along the way, Simonds has evolved into a successful international business and continues to invest in new technologies and improved product developments.