HART History
HART Design & Manufacturing has been making superior quality cheese processing and packaging equipment since 1975. The company was formed by two food packaging engineers, Gilbert Hannon and Gerald Schaetz. Through their vision, we have become a global leader in the design and construction of standard, specialty and proprietary stainless steel equipment for use in the food and dairy industry.
Walk Through HART’s History
The Beginning of HART
HART Design & Manufacturing began on October 31, 1975, when two engineers from Schreiber Foods, Gilbert “Gil” Hannon and Gerald “Gerry” Schaetz, purchased Hart Reduction Pulley Company in Winneconne, Wisconsin. At the time, the company’s main product was the “Hart Transmission.”
Both Gil and Gerry got their start in food machinery when they worked as design engineers at FMC Packaging Machinery Division. Gil later became president of Green Bay Machinery, a subsidiary of Schreiber Foods, Inc. Gerry worked as plant engineer at Schreiber, and later became project manager for Green Bay Machinery.
Immediately after the company purchase, Gil left Green Bay Machinery to manage the new corporation, which was soon renamed HART Design & Mfg., Inc. Gil worked out of an office building at 505 Henry Street, Green Bay, and commuted to Winneconne as required.
Because of the strong engineering background that Gil and Gerry had in designing food machinery, it was quite natural for HART Design to begin development of equipment for cutting, handling, processing, and packaging cheese.
In January 1980, Gerry left Green Bay Machinery to manage the operations of these new acquisitions from Air Conditioning & Heating Specialists Inc.
In 1982, HART completed the design for its first major piece of equipment, an all-new HART 3 x 12 Wrapper to replace the Hayssen 43L and 5000 style machines. The only competition was located in Europe, since both Hayssen and Battlecreek discontinued their models. HART sold two in 1983 and one in 1984. This machine has remained one of the company’s most important products.
Gil Hannon Retires
Other building additions were made to the manufacturing office and warehouse space in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993. Operations now encompass more than 40,000 square feet with over 35 craftsmen.