A history of InSinkErator
We've been perfecting our powerful food waste disposers for over 80 years. Here's the story of how we got to where we are today...
We've been perfecting our powerful food waste disposers for over 80 years. Here's the story of how we got to where we are today...
If your first encounter with food waste disposers is visiting our website today – and you’ve ever scrubbed residue off the side of your bin, or grimaced while fishing around inside it for a dropped fork – you’re probably throwing your arms up in joy at this revolutionary invention and wondering how nobody thought of it before.
Here’s the thing – we did. Almost a century ago. And we’ve been perfecting our original food waste disposer with the same old-fashioned American engineering ever since.
In 1927 the world's first food waste disposal unit was invented by Wisconsin architect, John W. Hammes. Hammes' first creation was born out of sheet metal and used a small motor. Over the following years he perfected the design and in 1938 the InSinkErator brand was born.
During the age of rock and roll, we were also rocking. We expanded our product line and footprint to a 75,000 square foot facility in Racine, Wisconsin. In 1952 a direct sales force was added. John Hammes died in 1953 before seeing the full potential of his after-dinner thought. However, under his son’s leadership we introduced the Model 77, featuring a 5-year warranty and assembled a network of independent service representatives.
In 1968, InSinkErator was acquired by globally renowned technology and engineering firm Emerson, becoming an integral part of its identity. By now, hundreds of thousands of units are being sold to households all over the USA.
In response to this rapid growth, InSinkErator begins to sell food waste disposers outside the USA for the first time – opening an international division based in Europe. The following year, the M-Series range (known in the US as the ‘Badger’) is developed, combining compact design with kitchen convenience.
In 1970 we diversified by manufacturing trash compactors and in 1973 we brought out our first instant hot water tap. By 1974 we had captured one-third of the disposer market in the US. We continued our market leadership and by 1978 the plant had grown to 388,000 square feet. It supplied 50% of all food waste disposers sold in the US and had opened an office in the UK.
In 1993, InSinkErator’s 50 millionth food waste disposer rolls off the production line, an incredible milestone that’s fittingly celebrated with a ceremony. The disposer is put on permanent display in the plant’s lobby. Around the same time, worldwide sales hit an all-time high.
The scene is set for a decade in which household kitchens will start to fill up with all sorts of computer technology – but InSinkErator’s simple, reliable and long-perfected engineering methods will remain just the same.
The new millennium was filled with promise. In 2001 the engineering group was staffed to create innovative new ideas in sound and grind technologies. By 2002 research and development was concepting the Evolution Series. By 2004 market presence had expanded to 80 countries and new subsidiaries were opened in Mexico, Japan & China. By 2006 the high-performance Evolution line was launched with its revolutionary sound and grind technologies.
In 2013, Ashley Munden was appointed Managing Director for Europe in a move that would see us rapidly develop in the hot water tap market. In 2014 we made a major splash in the instant hot water tap market with the launch of the 3N1. This innovation continued with the launch of the 4N1 Touch in 2018.
We plan to carry on innovating for another 80 years and many more. While we’ve been perfecting our food waste disposer for decades, we’ve never had to reinvent the wheel – John W Hamme’s original ingenious design is still as useful and game-changing today as it ever was.
Today, all of our food waste disposers are still made in the USA at our factory in Racine, Wisconsin. We have developed and perfected the models through the years and we are still easily recognised as the global leader, with our food waste disposers in 50% of US homes and and here in the UK we’re continuing to spread the word and grow.
InSinkErator is part of Emerson.
Emerson, based in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, is a global leader in manufacturing and technology. The company is extremely diversified, with food waste disposers and hot water taps just part of the story. Emerson’s activities include a wide range of products and services in industrial, commercial and consumer markets.
Renowned for management excellence and advanced engineering capabilities, Emerson has around 132,000 employees in 230 manufacturing locations worldwide. For more information, visit www.Emerson.com.
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