Revised 10/13/99
The Baumfolder Corporation began operations in 1917 in Sidney, Ohio as the Liberty Folder Company. Founded by four area Businessmen, Liberty Folder began manfacturing folding machines for the printing industry. In the years ahead Liberty Folder grew and prospered. In 1920 Liberty Folder purchased another local folder company, The Eclipse Folding Machine Company (founded in 1884). And in 1935 The Mentges Folder Company (founded in 1884) was purchased.
In 1935 Mr. Russell Ernest Baum, a Philadelphia Businessman, became a dealer and began selling the Liberty Folder. Mr. Baum was considered a marketing genius and was so successful in the marketing of the Liberty Folder that in 1936 he was granted an exclusive dealership for the Eastern United States. With Baum's continued success to market the product the Liberty Folder quickly became known as the Baumfolder. In 1950 Mr. Baum became sole owner of the Liberty Folder Company which he managed until he sold it to Bell & Howell in 1961.
Baumfolder continued to grow under Bell & Howell during the 1960's and 1970's with more Baumfolders being sold in the United States and Canada than all the other manufacters of folding machines combined. In 1965 Bell & Howell built a new manufacturing facility which remains the home for Baumfolder today.
In 1976 under Mr. Farley's direction Baumfolder continued to grow and diversify into other products including: Table Top Folders, Paper Drills, and Paper Cutters. This was accomplished through the purchase of the O&M Folder Product line 1981 and the Nygren Dahly Company in 1983 and by new product development from Baumfolder's Engineering Department. In 1981 the Baumfolder manufacturing plant and offices were enlarged to their present size to accommodate the additional products and the growth in the folder business. 1987 Baumfolder's Management Group sold the business to EAC-Heidelberg USA, which in 1990 sold the company to Stahl, located in Ludwigsberg, Germany.
With Stahl as parent company Baumfolder continued its growth into larger folders and a complete line of finishing equipment distribution . Quality was the focus and in 1997 ISO Certification was achieved. In 1999 Stahl was acquired by Heidelberg Druckmachinen, Germany. Baumfolder is a proud member of the Heidelberg Finishing Business Unit.
Today, Baumfolder manufactures in its Sidney, Ohio facility a line of Floor Model Folders, Table Top Folders, Paper Drills, and Paper Cutters with the Baumfolder name on them for distribution through the Baumfolder Dealer Network.
Baumfolder also manufactures Heidelberg Perfect Saddle Binders, special OEM products, and Stahl Mid-to-Large size Floor Model folders distributed in North America by Heidelberg USA and Heidelberg Canada.
Revised 10/13/99