75 years of Innovation
The Brewer Company, a Wisconsin-based manufacturer of healthcare solutions and ergonomic seating, is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2022.
The company has modernized exam tables by being the first to introduce the important features clinicians value highly today, such as pass-through storage drawers, large patient steps, low wheelchair accessible heights, and higher weight capacities to serve even more of the patient population. These are some of the features that earned the company’s flagship product, the Access Power Exam Table, the HIDA Product of the Year.
In the same way, the Brewer Company set out to revolutionize dental seating when it teamed up with Milwaukee’s Marquette University Dental School to study how ergonomics could play an important role in alleviating work-related injuries in the profession. Incorporating those findings, Brewer designed some of the most advanced seating ever built for dental professionals that aimed at reducing or eliminating painful musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) that have harmed the industry for decades.
From its inception, the Brewer Company – originally named E.F. Brewer Company – has been guided by innovative thinking.
The company got its start in 1947 when founder Frank Brewer acquired the Ellsworth Pipe and Supply Company, the business he worked for. The custom tube fabricator at that time was failing due in part to the lingering effects of the steel strikes of 1946. Upon acquisition, the company of eight employees quickly shifted focus to more innovative plans.
One of the early innovations included a mower attachment that turned any reel-type walking lawnmower into a tricycle-type riding lawnmower. It was considered one of the first riding lawnmowers ever introduced.
Throughout its 75 years, the Brewer Company sold a variety of innovative products outside the healthcare industry, including the PORTASCOOT portable electric wheelchair (1970s), the cube master industrial ice cube maker (1960s), the Swirlbath hydromassage accessory (1960s), solar panels (1970s), and earth and ice augers (1980s).
But nearly immediately after taking over the company, Frank Brewer knew the company’s success hinged on serving the healthcare industry and introduced several products for hospitals and nursing homes within the first few years of taking over, including foot stools, hampers and dispensary carts.
“We pioneered chrome equipment for hospitals,” Frank Brewer said in a December 1967 article of Surgical Business. The chrome products were designed to replace painted ones.
As time went on, Brewer focused more on manufacturing equipment that helped healthcare staff become more efficient, while improving safety of patients and caregivers. In 1965, the company introduced a portable exam table aimed at women’s health and followed it up with a series of innovative products to improve efficiency and safety that included a patient lift and a hospital mattress transport.
But it is Brewer’s modern-day products that have elevated the company to new heights. It all started in 1984 when the company acquired seat manufacturer Del-Tube. Fueled by the acquisition, Brewer would introduce a series of dental seating models, including some of the most advanced ergonomic seats evert built including today’s extremely popular 3000 series and 9000 series stools.
And 17 years later – in 2001 – Brewer made its mark in the exam room space when it unveiled the Access Exam Table. That successful launch was followed by three more in the coming years as the company introduced the Assist Procedure Table, Access Power Exam Table and Flex Power Exam Tables.
The successful launches coupled with a successful dental seating business has put the Menomonee Falls manufacturer on a path to rapid growth for years to come as the once eight employee business has grown to more than 100 and increasing.
Learn more about the Brewer Company’s 75 years of business at https://brewercompany.com/75th-anniversary or on the company’s social media pages.
Frank E. Brewer founded the E.F. Brewer Company as the successor to the Ellsworth Pipe & Supply Company. The original products were tubular bar stools sold to restaurant suppliers.
The company develops and successfully patents a lawn mower attachment that turns any reel type of lawn mower into into a 3-wheeled riding lawn mower.
The company introduces a comprehensive line of products for the medical market, including seating, step stoops, IB poles, hampers and instrument stands.
Brewer introduces its portable exam table aimed at women's health, setting the stage for the company's future exam table innovations.
For the 6th time in 22 years, Brewer expands with the inauguration of Plant #2 in Butler, Wis. Fueled by the company's healthcare product line growth, Brewer sees sales double in five years leading up to the expansion.
Brewer unveils its PORTASCOOT portable electric wheelchair. Deemed "The Freedom Machine" and available in multiple configurations, the lightweight electric wheelchair collapses to easily transport in a car.
Experiencing continued growth, Brewer moves to a modern 100,000-square foot manufacturing facility in Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Brewer acquires Quality Tool & Manufacturing, Inc., adding new products such as power-driven, hand-held earth and ice augers to its growing product line.
Brewer enters dental market after acquiring Del-Tube Corporation and its line of adjustable stools, patient exam chairs and X-Ray chairs.
Brewer introduces the Teddy Crib, a pediatric crib for healthcare facilities built with ergonomic features, state of the art safety and long-lasting durability.
The Del-Tube corporate name is merged into E.F. Brewer. At this time, the company changes its corporate name to The Brewer Company.
The Brewer Company strategically focuses on its expertise in complex upholstery and seating design and manufacturing when it launches its contract manufacturing OEM division. Today, that division, named Brewer Design, serves numerous large healthcare, marine and dental customers.
Brewer Company partners with the Marquette University Dental School to study ergonomic seating and its benefits to dental professionals. The findings in this breakthrough study are used to build Brewer stools for years to come.
The ultra-popular 3100 series of dental stools is introduced. Its the first lineup of stools Brewer releases after the Marquette partnership and includes Brewer's 3125 operator stool, still the most popular Brewer stool amongst dentists.
Brewer introduces its lineup of 9000 series dental stools, the most ergonomic dental stool on the market. Designed to reduce the chance of musculoskeletal disorders, Brewer follows up the 9000 series with the equally ergonomic 9100, 9200, & 9500 series in later years
Brewer introduces the Access Exam Table, it's first modern-day exam table. Featuring pass-through drawers, class-leading storage space and an industry leading 500-pound weight capacity, Access quickly takes market share. It's the first exam table to be released in a series of popular introductions.
Brewer introduces the Assist Procedure Chair, Brewer's first procedure table ever. The chair enters the market as the most affordable, has the best warranty, and offers the most value.
The Access Power Exam Table is introduced at the HIDA Expo and Trade Show in Philadelphia. The true chair-to-table design is the industry's most advanced exam table ever built. Featuring abundant storage, industry leading weight capacities and pass-through drawers, it wins HIDA Product of the Year.
Brewer offers an affordable, feature-rich power exam table to the industry when it unveiled the FLEX. Offering unmatched ergonomic access to the patient and all the advantages of a power table, the FLEX quickly becomes an appealing option over fixed-height exam tables.
Brewer makes 135 saddle stools available to dental professionals in North America. Featuring 360 dynamic motion, the advanced saddle stools quickly become the go-to favorite of hygienists.
N88 W13901 Main Street, Ste
100 Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
Main Line: Line: 1.888.273.9371
Local Line: 1.262.251.9530
Main Fax: 1.262.251.2332