Company History
For more than 117 years, OPW has been the global leader in commercial and retail fueling solutions, offering the world's broadest selection of fueling products and systems. OPW products enable marketers to provide for the safest, most efficient, competitive and environmentally-sustainable fueling operations possible. Every day, millions of people around the world shake hands with OPW as they reach for our nozzles to fuel their vehicles.
OPW was founded in 1892 as the Ohio Pattern Works & Foundry Company. By 1930 the company had already built a reputation as a leading supplier of nozzles, valves, fittings and couplings to the petroleum industry. In 1948, the company changed its name to OPW Corporation before becoming part of Dover Corporation in 1961.
- 1892
- Victor E. Tresise and Joseph E. Hausfeld found the Ohio Pattern Works, investing $390 to finance the company. It was the first shop in Cincinnati to make both wood and metal patterns for everything from grave markers to oil valves.
- 1904
- the company begins focusing its efforts in the petroleum industry; builds its first office on Spring Grove Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio
- 1907
- the company starts its brass foundry
- 1916
- the company is incorporated as The Ohio Pattern Works and Foundry
- 1929
- the company completes construction on its building on Colerain Avenue in Cincinnati for offices, machinery and assembly work
- 1948
- G.L. Ohrstrom & Associates buy the company, and change the name to OPW Corporation
- 1961
- Dover Corporation purchases OPW
- 1965
- OPW Dover (Europa) N.V. is founded to distribute OPW products in Europe
- 1976
- OPW relocates its manufacturing and office complex to a new 250,000 sq. ft. facility on Princeton-Glendale Road, in northern Cincinnati, Ohio
- 1984
- OPW begins joint venture with Sao Paulo, Brazil-based Eleven LTDA to manufacture nozzles, spill containers, check valves and overfill prevention valves for South America markets
- 1988
- OPW acquires POMECO, complementing its existing line of manholes, swivels and hose retractors
- 1990
- OPW is awarded the "1st ever" Petroleum Equipment Institute's Manufacturer of the Year Award and goes on to win 6 times as the #1 Best Manufacturer, until award was discontinued by PEI in 2002
- 1990
- Originally founded in 1921, and a distributor and manufacturer of OPW nozzles since 1960, Dover Corporation (Canada) Limited / Industrial Division based in Strathroy, Ontario, Canada is acquired by OPW
- 1991
- OPW segments the company into three distinct and independent businesses: OPW Fueling Components, OPW Engineered Systems and CIVACON
- 1991
- OPW is awarded the Manufacturer of the Year Award for the second time
- 1992
- OPW is awarded the Manufacturer of the Year Award for the third time in as many years
- 1992
- OPW founds OPW Fueling Components Europe B.V. to manufacture and sell service station equipment in Europe, the Near East and Africa
- 1993
- OPW adds Compressed Natural Gas dispensing product line by combining its manufacturing and marketing with Canada-based Sherex Industries; OPW goes on to acquire the nozzle and receptacle business from Sherex
- 1993
- OPW becomes ISO certified
- 1995
- OPW acquires Hasstech, Inc. a manufacturer of Stage II vapor recovery systems
- 1996
- OPW is awarded the PEI Manufacturer of the Year Award for a fourth time
- 1996
- OPW acquires patents and technology for secondary containment piping and launches its PISCES™ secondary containment piping and sump product line
- 1997
- OPW is awarded the PEI Manufacturer of the Year Award for the fifth time
- 1998
- OPW is awarded the Ohio Governor’s Excellence in Exporting Award
- 1998
- Petro Vend, a Chicago-based Dover company and manufacturer of fuel control systems becomes part of OPW
- 1999
- OPW acquires Richards Industries, a Tennessee-based manufacturer of dispensing equipment
- 2000
- OPW is awarded PEI’s Manufacturer of the Year Award for the sixth time
- 2001
- OPW acquires all outstanding interest in Brazil joint venture Eleven LTDA, renaming the company - OPW Brazil
- 2002
- OPW acquires North Carolina-based EMCO Electronics, a manufacturer of tank gauge and fuel control systems
- 2002
- OPW opens a manufacturing facility in the Czech Republic
- 2003
- OPW acquires Brevetti-Nettuno, an Italy-based manufacturer of LPG fueling equipment
- 2003
- OPW opens a manufacturing facility in Szuhou, China
- 2006
- OPW acquires the assets of Environ Holdings - creates new division: OPW Fueling Containment Systems located
in Smithfield, North Carolina
- 2007
- OPW relocates its POMECO manufacturing plant from California to North Carolina