Johnson Bros. began when Edwin Johnson, Sr. decided to go into business himself. In 1947, he started constructing the company's first roll forming machine (now in storage) in his basement. He had offered his five brothers and equal share of the business if they matched is life savings, a $700 investment. One brother, Harold Johnson, did; hence the name Johnson Bros.

When the first machine was finished and tested,t had to be disassembled, carried from his basement and reassembled in Edwin's garage. After a few months the neighbors complained about the noise as production of small orders began and Edwin was forced to find new quarters. He found an uninsulated, dirt-floor garage in Chicago that had formerly been a stable. The brothers, Edwin Sr. and Harold, insulated the garage/plant, built a small office and heated the building with a small stove in the cold months.

The nature of Johnson Bros. roll forming has seen an evolution from a lockseam and openseam tubing emphasis, which accelerated their growth, to a diversity of shapes for many industrial uses and now to sophisticated computer controlled in-line fabrication. Their forming of all types of metals prefinished or plain, in thickness from .004 in. to .188 in., into many shapes, have virtually gone to every state in the continental U.S., Canada, Mexico and parts of Europe. Sales have grown to seven million with 36 full-time and six part-time employees. Outsourcing has made it difficult for American manufacturers and Johnson Bros. in the last few years but the future now looks very promising.

Delivering quality roll formed products to hundreds of industries including roll formed metal parts for furniture, partitions, displays, racks & storage, filters, refrigeration and many others. We create green energy products.