The Ellis Corporation was founded in 1898 as the Ellis Drier Company with the first installation in America of an English-made system for drying grain (it was salvaged from shipwrecks on the Great Lakes). The performance of the drier, on this very difficult type of work, was so successful that the inventor, Wynn Edward Ellis, decided to manufacture and market his new product.
During the early 1900's, the company began manufacturing monel cylinders to replace the wooden cylinders being used in the washing machines at that time.
On January 2, 1926, the company merged with Willey Company. Exactly one year later, the Willey-Ellis Company merged with Tolhurst Machine Works. The three-plant organization was known as the General Laundry Machinery Corporation. The Ellis Corporation, as we know it today, is the only part of the General Laundry Machinery Corporation that continued as an entity after the depression of 1929.
Ellis is recognized as an industry leader and has a reputation for delivering the best technologies at competitive pricing. Over the years, our company has established an excellent reputation in the laundry and wastewater treatment industries with several product innovations.
- 1934: Manufactured the first stainless steel washer cylinder used in the laundry industry.
- 1946: We developed and patented the first hydraulic unloading washer.
- 1947: We manufactured the industry's first large-diameter open pocket unloading washer.
- 1972: We became the first (and only) laundry machinery manufacturer to provide wastewater treatment systems by purchasing Winchester Manufacturing.
- Ellis introduced the redesigned Ellis vacuum filter to the industry.
- 1988: We introduced the first side-loading hydraulically-driven washer extractor.
- 1989: Ellis established a full-time software and control development department for proprietary in-house software.
- 1990: We introduced a three compartment 54 x 90 machine.
- 1992: We introduced the only large capacity machine to strip VOC's from print wipers.
- 1993: At the Clean '93 Show, Ellis introduced a 54 x 120 four-compartment laundry machine. This machine, with a capacity for 900 lbs. of linen, was the largest washer extractor in the world.
- 1996: We introduced the quietest 400+ lb. dryer on the market, the WHISPERDRYer, and the 450 lb. hydraulically-driven open pocket washer extractor.
- 1996: Ellis purchased Ludell Manufacturing Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ludell manufactures industrial water heaters and heat recovery units.
- 1997: Ellis designed and installed its first ceramic membrane wastewater treatment system.
- 1998: We introduced a high-speed side-loading washer extractor, an intrinsically safe VOC stripping washer extractor, and a large open pocket washer extractor.
- Seeing a need for customized wastewater systems, Ellis shifted wastewater treatment fabrication to the Ludell factory, an ASME certified shop specializing in stainless steel fabrication.
- 1999: Introduced 66 x 45 and 76 x 48 hydraulic drive open pocket washer extractors.
- 2000: Ellis introduced our 650-1000 lb. WHISPERDRYer installed in an Automated Mat Cell.
- Ellis announced an arrangement with Continenta dryers 30 lbs.+, Ironers, Folders and top transfer tunnel washers.
- 2001: Ellis adds feeders, folders, ironers, small pony washers, and small dryers to its line of equipment.
- 2004: Ellis installs its first Ellis 360 Sequential Washing System Tunnel.
- 2005: Ellis adds HJ Weir Finishing to its line of equipment.
- 2007: Ellis adds a feature to the Ellis VOC to process to improve productivity.
- 2009: Ellis introduces the Ellis ACE Automatic Centrifugal Extractor to work with the Ellis 360 Tunnel to the market.
- 2010: Ellis introduces the new One Touch Control for washers and dryers.
- 2011: Ellis introduces the new Ellis WD 7664 WhisperDryer at Clean 2011 in Las Vegas.
Four generations have contributed to making the Ellis organization a leader in the laundry and wastewater industries for over 100 years.
Our success and longevity is attributable to our customer's confidence and our investment in equipment designed for long-term performance and low life-cycle costs.