What’s in a name? Everything!
Introducing W.E. Hoban Company, formerly Cleveland Hardware and Forging Company
Why the name change?
W.E. Hoban Company is a name that:
Of its namesake. While it also
About
W.E. Hoban Legacy
W.E. Hoban is a family-owned business and is named after William E. Hoban, who bought the company in July 1985 and transitioned ownership to his son, William M., in April 2022.
William E. Hoban was with Cleveland Hardware and Forging Company his entire career from the age of twenty-three. Fifty-seven years in total. He got his start in an entry level accounting role at Cleveland Hardware and Forging Co (Cleveland, OH) and worked his way up to President. Over the years, CH&F expanded and grew by bringing Fox Valley Forge in Aurora, IL and Green Bay Drop Forge in Green Bay, WI into the family.
Over that time, it was the influence of William E. Hoban that shaped the culture of the organization and grew the business relationships the company has with its key stakeholders – our employees, our customers, our suppliers and in the communities we reside. Each and every person he came into contact with had his unwavering attention and focus. After meeting anyone new, they became instant friends and were treated as a member of the family. The significance of his influence is still in effect every day at W.E. Hoban Company and is built into our company’s core values. Each one of us who works at W.E. Hoban Company always understands that the work we do is a manifestation of William E. Hoban’s legacy and the products and services we provide meet his high expectations for excellence and quality.
One company:
- Focused on our future success as well as yours.
- Committed to modernizing our equipment and facilities.
- Strengthening our team to align with strategic initiatives.
- Welcome to adding new capabilities and services to meet the needs in the markets we serve.
Mission Statement
To deliver superior-manufactured solutions through continuous innovation and optimization, while sustaining a company culture based on family values.
What does this mean?
- We are dedicated to Quality, in our products and our commitment to modernization.
- Our culture and values are the heart of our organization. It reminds us that our pursuit of excellence in what we produce is not separate from our values, but rather, it works hand-in-hand. Family values are our foundation. These are the moral and ethical principles that guide our decisions, show that we care for each other, and are visible in our actions every day.
Core Values
Connecting with
People
Looking for Opportunities
Strategic
Planning
Vision &
Direction
Responsibility & Ownership
Supporting Each
Other
Locations
In August 2024, W.E. Hoban Company (FKA Cleveland Hardware and Forging Company) was born. However, our company has already been around for close to 150 years under various names and locations. W.E. Hoban is three former companies in one – Cleveland Hardware and Forging 1881, Fox Valley Forge 1948 and Green Bay Drop Forge 1914. Through the many years, each of the locations went through numerous changes, including their own name changes. Our three companies share resources and manufacturing economies, which enable W.E. Hoban to bring to its customers some of the most competitive and advanced forging products available.
Cleveland Hardware and Forging Company
Cleveland Hardware and Forging Company, incorporated in 1881, began selling sleigh and wagon hardware to the nation. Over the years, the company experienced numerous changes and, at its peak, employed over 2,000 people. It even had its own company store and was a major producer of forgings and hardware for the automotive, military, truck, bus, farm equipment, and household appliance industries. This was all in its first 100 years.
In the 1980s, after the purchase of Green Bay Drop Forge, the Cleveland location shifted its forging work to Green Bay and focused primarily on its hardware products.
Today, Cleveland Hardware continues to be a premier manufacturer and distributor of engineering-driven industrial hardware, serving the markets of truck, bus, van, rescue, enclosures, and toolboxes.
Fox Valley Forge
Beginning officially in 1940 as River Valley Forge, the company primarily focused on war-related components. In 1948, after new ownership, the Fox Valley Forge name was adopted. Fox Valley Forge began to serve the markets of automotive, truck, agricultural and energy.
Fox Valley Forge was acquired by Cleveland Hardware and Forging Company in 1973 and continued to expand both its capacity and capabilities. They doubled their upset capacity by adding 4 additional upsetters and installed multiple press lines to produce near net shape forgings. Fox Valley Forge also added the ability to upset tube and pipe to meet the growing demands of the energy market.
Today Fox Valley continues to be recognized as an expert in forging processes such as upsetting, extrusion and swaging providing gear blanks, gear and axle shafts, wheel hubs and spindles, forged coupling pup joints and horizontal drill pipe and many custom shapes in production quantities large and small.
Green Bay Drop Forge
Green Bay Drop Forge was founded in 1914 in Green Bay, WI as a horseshoe forging manufacturer. By the middle of the 20th century, Green Bay Drop Forge had evolved into a significant forging supplier to the automotive, agriculture equipment, and ordnance industries. The company was acquired by Cleveland Hardware and Forging Company in 1978.
Over its many years, Green Bay Drop Forge continued to be a trusted manufacturer of custom and standard steel forgings, machinings and assemblies, supplying industry-leading original equipment manufacturers, fabricators and distributors located throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. It’s been a major player in a wide array of markets, including heavy truck manufacturing, custom forged hand tools, automotive, and agriculture.
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