HTE Technologies Revenue and Competitors

January 2, 1959: HTE Technologies was founded as House of Tools by three industrial ‘factory reps' as a tool and rubber supply distributor for the St. Louis manufacturing market. 1961: D.E. (Don) Shearburn purchased the small distributorship and soon after hired his first employee, Tom Bielicki. 1962: HTE initiated a relationship with Parker Hannifin, becoming Parker's St. Louis distributor for their rapidly growing line of hose and fittings. Throughout the 60's , HTE continued to expand their Parker product offering of fluid power components , including the broad range of Parker hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders, pumps, valves, and filters. 1967: HTE's emphasis on providing exceptional customer service, field application assistance , and carrying a large local inventory led to HTE's third move into larger facilities in six years. This time, HTE built a brand new 6,000 sq ft building on Fee Fee Road in Hazelwood, MO. 1972: Divisionalization - spurred by the addition of several major product lines (including Ingersoll Rand air tools and hoists, Zero bead blast cabinets, Flex-O-Lite glass beads, and Pyles dispensing systems), HTE made a major strategic move…. splitting their sales teams into three separate product focused ‘divisions' , providing more concentrated energy, manpower, and training for each of the major product families…..fluid power, hose & fittings, air tools/material handling, metal finishing, material dispensing/lubrication. Name change - The 1970's were strong times in St. Louis industry with automotive, steel, die casting, and aircraft industries booming, providing momentum for HTE's continued growth. HTE's emphasis on technical expertise and engineering support services across a broad array of product families led Don Shearburn to change the company name from House of Tools to House of Tools and Engineering, Inc. 1976: Growth continued and by early 1976, HTE again required larger facilities. This time the move was easier, just a short two blocks down the street in Hazelwood to a 22,000 sq ft facility at 436 Anglum Road. The Anglum facility provided room for the growing inventory required by each of HTE's three divisions and the growing family of HTE employees. 1980: HTE acquired Ingersoll Rand's entire St. Louis Air Tool Service Center , hiring all IR's service technicians and acquiring all the custom repair/testing equipment. A 3,000sq ft repair & fabrication center was set up offering factory authorized repair service for air tools, hoists, winches, and dispensing systems. 1983-1986: The early-to-mid 80's were tougher times for distribution with double digit interest rates and a struggling economy, but HTE focused on improving internal operational efficiencies with the installation of a comprehensive software package that automated inventory control, accounts receivable, sales history …enabling a whole new level of customer responsiveness to special inventory stocking programs, same day shipping , and custom reporting. 1986: SULLAIR Compressors Added - HTE was selected by Sullair, industry's leading manufacturer of rotary screw air compressors, to represent their line in Missouri and southern Illinois. The addition of the Sullair compressor line became the core product for today's Compressed Air Solutions Group within HTE. This full business unit handles sales, factory trained service, equipment rental, system design, and turnkey installation of complete air systems up thru 2000hp. Over the years HTE's product offering in our Compressed Air Solutions Group has evolved to include industrial vacuum systems, chillers, cooling towers and water treatment products. 1991: After 30 years of running the company with an energy level and passion respected by employees, vendors, and peers nationwide, Don Shearburn assumed the role of Chairman and retired from daily operations. His son, Kim Shearburn, was named president. The ‘90s ushered in a new era of transition and consolidation in US industry and distribution. Demands for productivity gains and quality improvements began requiring the application of more emerging technologies to automate and control manufacturing processes, requiring greater precision with feedback control and faster cycle rates with less down time. HTE responded by taking on more world class lines to compliment its existing core fluid power lines..including Balluff and TriTronics sensors, DVT vision systems, Clippard miniature air valves & cylinders, Proportion-Air proportional pressure controls and the extensive Mitsubishi product family of motion, automation controls and PLC products.