About Us

Positech Corporation

Building quality products since 1951…

Quality Certified

Providing Quality Work Since 1951

Positech° Corporation is a Quality System Registered company.  ISO 9001:2015/Q9001-2015 Certificate QSR-498.  They are classified as SIC-3526 and NAICS-333923.  Currently, Positech® is under the National Federation of Independent Business trade association.

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Positech® Corporation began with its predecessor, Mefferd Industries, Inc., a company founded by Paul Mefferd, to manufacture hydraulic cylinders in 1951.

For nearly 25 years, the company was a manufacturing facility only — to fabricate and sell its product line of hydraulic cylinders and rotary manifolds to Iowa Industrial Hydraulics and others for resale.  Positech® continues to sell rotary manifolds on a direct to customer basis.

In 1975, Mefferd Industries, Inc. was purchased by Tom Mefferd through a merger.  The name was changed to Positech® Corporation in 1980.

In 1977, Positech® first designed and sold the Taurus Positioning Arm, a hydraulic manipulator.  In 1984, the company secured the licensing rights to a German pneumatic manipulator.  For a time, Positech® simply imported and sold the German equipment.  Responding to market demands for equipment with greater capacity and higher safety standards, Positech® designed its own line of pneumatic manipulators in early 1986.  The relationship with the German company ended in 1989.

In 1989, Columbus McKinnon Corporation of Amherst, New York, a manufacturer of crane, hoists, and links, purchased Positech® Corporation.  The transaction resulted in a buyout of the company’s public shareholders and the creation of Positech® as a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbus McKinnon Corporation.

In 1996, Columbus McKinnon Corporation purchased Conco®.  Conco® was its own division of Columbus McKinnon Corporation until January 1, 1999.

In 1999, Conco® became a part of the Positech® Division.

In 2004, American Handling Systems, Inc., a corporation started by the Positech® management team purchased Positech® from Columbus McKinnon Corporation.

In 2005, American Handling Systems, Inc. purchased Coleman Equipment, Inc.

Positech® combines custom-designed tooling and lifting devices such as manipulators, hoist, and pneumatic balancers to reduce ergonomic-related injuries and improve process handling.  The company uses a team problem-solving approach for applications including: Aerospace, Agriculture, Appliances, Automotive, Chemical, Construction, Electronic, Food & Beverage, Furniture, HVAC, Metal Fabrication, Metal Production, Mining, Paper, and Tires.

The company sells through commissioned manufacturer’s representatives in both the United States and abroad. It has been both a government contractor and a sub-contractor.

Positech® Corporation has approximately 60,000 square feet of manufacturing and office facilities in Laurens, Iowa.

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If you’re interested in purchasing a Positech® product…

Want to purchase a Positech® custom rotary union, or inquire about any of our other products? Give us a call!