The company was established in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by inventor
Christopher W. LeValley, who also went by C.W. Levalley, and two foundry operators, that provided him with $11,000.00 in starting capital, F.W. Sivyer and W.A. Draves. It was incorporated on February 20, 1892. The company applied the concept of chain belts on farm machinery to construction machinery and conveying equipment. Its building was formerly owned by Alonzo Pawling and
Henry Harnischfeger of Pawling & Harnischfeger, By 1943 it was manufacturing: Rex Chain, Rex Concrete Mixers, Rex Sprockets, Rex Traveling Water Screens, Rex Elevators, and Rex Conveyors and was working on conveyor for chemicals. By 1944 it was producing
rifles,
howitzers,
anti-aircraft guns (rifles), tank turrets, ammunition hoists for navy vessels and turrets, tracks and gunshields for
Alligator armored vehicles. By 1959 its business was involved in four distinct categories: Construction Machinery, Heavy Bulk Material Handling Systems, Mechanical Power Transmission, Sanitation and Industrial Waste Treatment Equipment. In 1964 the company changed its name to Rex Chainbelt, Inc.
Nordberg Manufacturing Company was acquired in 1970, and in 1973 the company name changed to
Rexnord. In October 2016, Rexnord announced plans to move its
bearings manufacturing plant, with its 300 union jobs and 75-80 supervisory jobs, from
Indianapolis,
Indiana, to
Monterrey,
Mexico, in June 2017. President-elect
Donald Trump criticized Rexnord for firing 300-plus American employees, via
Twitter on December 2, 2016. ==References==