We service what we build, supporting customers throughout the entire lifespan of their machines. While our specialty lies in interior and exterior automotive trim, we also provide our expertise in robotics integration to bring your factory floor into the 21st century. Hill Machinery Co. is proud to be your trusted ISO-certified machine shop, as well as FANUC preferred integrator.
Our mission is to be the premier supplier and manufacturer of specialty tooling and equipment in multiple markets. We will continue to satisfy our customers with superior quality, value, and service.
We will meet or exceed our customer’s expectations by utilizing our quality system and meeting our quality objectives through relentless continuous improvement.
James Corbett founded Hill Machinery Co. in 1911. Mr. Corbett, an excellent machinist, built the business through his ability to make spare parts required by the new automotive industry. Just prior to and during World War I, there were no specialty shops. Raw materials were machined, heat treated, and ground in his small, crowded shop of 3,300 square feet.
Hill Machinery Co. got its name from its original location at 415 Lafayette Avenue in Grand Rapids’s “Hill District.”
Alfred Brechting bought Hill Machinery Co. in 1920. Over the years, he worked closely with John Warren—a research and design engineer. Together, they did a great deal of work for the rapidly growing automotive industry. After Mr. Brechting’s death in 1949, the company was purchased by Don Vanden Bos Sr. who was a long-time employee, friend, and admirer of Mr. Brechting.
Demand for permanent aluminum molds grew. To keep up with increasing production needs, Hill Machinery Co. needed more space. In 1956, the company moved to larger facilities at 632 Crofton Street. Two years later, Hill Machinery Co. expanded their offerings to include the production of small stamping dies, machine repair, and production machining.
Hill Machinery Co. moved to 704 Crofton Street in 1962. In 1984, we expanded the building to 17,600 square feet. From that point forward, we began building special purpose machines, which remain our largest source of income.
Don Vanden Bos Jr. bought the company from his father in 1986. In those years, Hill Machinery Co. made tremendous progress working with the automotive industry. In particular, sales increased for hot-air cold-stake systems.
Hill Machinery Co. moved to its present-day location in 1991. Since then, we’ve added an inside sales department and expanded many facets of the business including our in-house design and CAD/CAM capabilities. Our products now include automotive interior trim assembly, ultrasonic welding, and presses. We also build stand-alone and complete .
Backed by over 100 years of experience, Hill Machinery Co. continues to serve diverse markets and deliver flexible automation solutions. We remain on the cutting edge of , lending our expertise in mechanical and electrical design as well as CNC machining, EDM wire burn, and fabrication. We’ve also added a test lab!
Much has changed in over a century, but our dedication to our clients remains as unwavering as ever. What can we build for you? To request a quote from our US machine builders, please call Hill Machinery Co. at (616) 940-2800 or fill out our online contact form.
