Filters

Less than a dozen employees to a global business with distribution across six continents, they have grown and prospered since its founding.

1936-1980

J.A. Baldwin was one of the first to recognize the importance of improving mobile filtration. He designed a cartridge lube filter and began production in Wisconsin in 1936.

By 1952, Baldwin needed to expand in order for J.A. Baldwin Manufacturing Company to compete for the big orders, but was unable to do so in Wisconsin.

At this time, Kearney, Nebraska, had an idle airfield with hangars that had been used in World War II as a base for the big B-29 planes taking off for Europe.

Baldwin Oil and Fuel Filters big move

The company moved to Kearney in 1953 to take advantage of the central location and the available transportation. Once in Kearney, Baldwin Filters began operation in a 24,000 square foot building with nine employees.

By the end of the year, Baldwin employed 26 people and occupied three buildings.

In 1963, Baldwin purchased 42 acres of the former Kearney Air Base and began construction. Shortly after moving part of the operation into the new building, a fire destroyed the original plant and the company offices.

Also lost in the fire were the blueprints of all the filters and the machines designed to produce them. Within six months, J.A. reconstructed the needed blueprints and returned the company to full production.

Between 1964 and 1981, the Baldwin Filter plant was expanded nine times to accommodate the rapid expansion.

Baldwin fuel Filters, Baldwin Filters Australia