Yesterday & Today’s Balcrank
Balcrank began in 1906 in the heart of Cincinnati, Ohio's "Machine Tool Colony" as the Cincinnati Ball Crank Company. The first products produced by Balcrank were handwheels and cranks used by the machine tool industry. That same year Balcrank became the first mass producer of starting cranks for automobiles. In 1908, Balcrank entered the automotive industry with the manufacturing of steering drag links. The steering drag links were an immediate hit. Almost every car manufacturer adopted these drag links and for the first time, steering a car became an easy task.
To follow its drag links were ball-sockets for spark and throttle control. Next was the famous Balcrank “bumpers.” From that time on, Balcrank’s place in the automotive picture was set.
Always looking forward, in 1922 Balcrank entered the lubrication field. The company secured both the patents and services of Clyde Butler, one of the nation’s leading lubrication engineers. His inventions made Balcrank a pioneer in the automotive lubrication industry. His inventions, which the world has adopted and still use today, remain his legacy.
The Cincinnati Ball Crank Company got its name from the production of ball-sockets and hand cranks. The company was commonly referred to as Ball Crank. In 1933, the Board of Directors voted to change the name Ball Crank to Balcrank, Inc.
In 1943, Balcrank received the three-star Army-Navy “E” Award, also known as the Army-Navy Production Award. This award was presented to facilities doing outstanding war production and construction work. The awarded facilities were particularly outstanding in the production of materials for the War and Navy Departments. Excellence in quality and quantity of production was two of the determining factors in granting awards.
After the war, Balcrank returned to its roots, manufacturing aftermarket lubrication equipment. Over the next 50 years, Balcrank introduced an average of three new products a year including the Pride series pumps, fluid inventory control systems, used fluid evacuation systems, and Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) dispensing systems.
On July 9, 2009, Balcrank Corporation was acquired by Linter North America, a subsidiary of Linter Investments of Madrid Spain.
Balcrank is one of the oldest manufacturers of automotive products. Many of the methods and devices used in lubrication service today stem from the primary patents of Balcrank and its engineers. Balcrank continues its rich history and is still at the heart of the American automotive industry. Since its beginning, we have been providing our customers with the best products for the ever-changing automotive and industrial markets that exist today.
Balcrank entered the lubrication equipment field in 1922 and and since then has developed many "first' in the industry, thus attaining a recognized position of leadership in design and engineering progress. All Balcrank equipment is built to meet the highest standards of quality control and performance requirements.
Achievements:
1906 The Cincinnati Ball Crank Company is formed
1906 First in the mass production of machine handles and cranks for the machine tool and automotive industries
1908 First in mass production of the ball-socket type of tie-rod and drag link steering connection
1920 First and only mass producer of tubular bumpers for automobiles
1922 Enters into the lubrication equipment field and invents and produces the first electric grease gun
1923 First patents on hydraulic coupler and fittings now universally used today
1924 Developed first air operated high-pressure/volume grease gun
1926 Developed first air powered lubrication pump
1930 Developed first enclosed hose reels
1933 Company changes name to Balcrank, Inc.
1935 First pump with Deluxe Container covers for weathered environments
1948 Engineered and released new Jet Power air operated pump
1958 Introduced larger capacity hose reels in “deluxe” cabinet
1960 Developed and introduced world’s first high pressure coolant system
1965 Patents on Jet Pulser high-pressure coolant system
1968 Introduced the original Director inventory control system
1987 Introduced the Director Jr. simplified inventory control system
1994 Introduced the Dataflo electronic digital control handle
1996 Introduced the Roughneck self-evacuating drain
1998 Cutting Edge high-pressure coolant segment formed
1998 Variable speed Cutting Edge high-pressure coolant systems developed
1999 Patents on Roughneck design
1999 Introduced Panther® HP 3:1 and 5:1 air operated pumps
2002 Introduced Panther® HP 50:1 grease pumps
2003 Introduced Tiger HP 5:1 pump
2004 Introduced mobile cart based 55 g drum pump Packages
2005 Introduced custom color program for hose reels
2005 Introduced Lion™ HP 5:1, 10:1, and 50:1 pumps
2005 Introduced grease inductor pump systems for Lion™ HP and Panther® HP grease pumps
2005 Introduced air operated oil evacuation system
2006 Introduced Pump Sentinel, a pump shutoff control system
2006 Introduced Spectrum 1000™ fluid Inventory Control System
2007 Implemented structural improvements to Premium reels
2007 Introduced electrically operated e-vac oil evacuation system
2007 Introduced fusion wireless fluid inventory control systems
2007 Introduced complete tank packages for oil and transmission fluid
2008 Introduced new generation of truck drain
2008 Introduced a full range of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) dispensing systems
2009 Balcrank acquired by Linter North America, a subsidiary of Linter Investments of Madrid Spain.
2009 Introduced Auto Lock nozzle
2009 Introduced 3:1 Lynx lube pump
2009 Introduced ILM (In-Line metered) series Control Handles in both analog and electronic display
2010 Introduces 1:1, 2:1 and 5:1 Lynx pumps
2011 Introduced Signature Evolution Series hose reel
2011 Introduced NEW Redesigned Signature Series Premium hose reel
2011 Introduced Lynx 55:1 Lynx Portable Package
2012 Introduced EV and EVX hose reels
2012 Introduced Synergy fluid inventory management systems
2013 Introduced 3/4” High Flow dispense valve
2013 Introduced CenterFlo air operated diaphragm pumps
2013 Introduced Digital Register (DR) meter