STORY OF ICKLER COMPANY:

Today's Ickler Company continues an uninterupted history in high-quality metal working. That spirit of innovation and craftsmanship that began with Elmer Seibert in the early part of the 20th century guides and inspires us to this day. Here is a brief timeline of that story:

1910's:
Elmer Seibert, working out of his garage, designs and manufactures wrist pins for the Pan Motor Company of St. Cloud, Minnesota

1930's:
Fred Ickler of St. Cloud, Minnesota, designs and manufactures the Hilger Wood Floor Sander

1940's:
Elmer Seibert purchased Ickler Company and merged it with his shop, Seibert Machine. Ickler Company secures government contracts producing products for the war effort. After the war ends, Seibert’s love of ice fishing inspires him to design ice fishing house stove and folding ice skimmer. Ickler continues to manufacture the Hilger Wood Floor Sander. Ickler also continues to develop the job shop work part of Ickler Company

1950's:
A joint design effort with Claire Lantz and Elmer Seibert yields bifocal lens grinder. Ickler begins to manufacture optical lens grinding machines. Dick Speiring joined Ickler and eventually became its general manager. Ickler Machine moves to current location on First Street South behind Division Place Fashion Center

1960's:
Ickler Company expands the optical business to many local firms. Ickler designs and builds room-sized ovens used to temper optical lenses. Ickler also entered the bearing business. Stanly Tull convinced Seibert to adopt the St. Cloud Bearing firm. Retail bearing sales remain a large part of Ickler's business today

1970's:
As optical industry needs changed, Ickler Company begins focus on dairy equipment, beginning with manufacturing homogenizer blocks

1980's:
Elmer Seibert dies. Dick Speiring continues to lead the company until his retirement. Todd McGonagle, the grandson of Elmer Seibert, joins the company as it's manager and continues the tradition of family ownership to this day

1990's:
Expansion into the world of automated machinery allowed Ickler to keep up with the demand for dairy parts and also to manufacture, one of a kind, job shop parts that would never have been possible before.

The Next Century:
Currently Ickler Machine offers all the services of a traditional machine shop, welding shop, and manufacturing operation. We pride ourselves on our ability to mold, cut, shape, and modify anything made of metal. Mark Held joins Ickler's ranks and general manager. Our high standards and years of experience continue to make Ickler an anchor point for machining excellence, locally as well as nation-wide.