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Alfred Willard French founded The French Oil Mill Machinery Co. on May 25, 1900. An M.I.T. graduate and veteran of the linseed oil industry, French believed engineering creativity and research would produce superior vegetable oil mill machinery.
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"We have not confined ourselves to prevailing types of machines, but have adopted radical departures for the benefit of the industry," said French in 1908.
Alfred and his team transitioned their expertise in vegetable oil hydraulic press technology to other processes such as metal forming and rubber curing. French was granted 55 patents.
He also had a vision for the future of the company. He exported to markets outside of the USA and was soon building equipment for use in Great Britain, Germany, and Norway. This strong tradition of partnering across the seas continues today with installations in nearly every country on nearly every continent.
Alfred's wife, Grace Albers French, took over as President, ably assisted by General Manager Charles B. Upton, after her husband's untimely death in 1925. The company remained dedicated to the same principles of creative engineering and research.
Alfred Willard French Jr. joined the company in 1926, rising to Vice President in 1931 and President in 1962. Under his direction, the company expanded offerings to vegetable oil mills with mechanical screw presses and other products. He also pioneered the use of screw presses in the synthetic and natural rubber, wood pulp, and cane sugar industries.
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In the late 1930s,The French Oil Mill Machinery Company began manufacturing solvent extraction machinery for the vegetable oil industry. In 1999, French announced the licensing and sale of the latest technologies of its worldwide solvent extraction business to the DeSmet Group, S.A. of Brussels, Belgium.
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Daniel Phelps French, the younger son of Alfred Willard French Jr., now serves as Chairman of the Board and President. Dan has continued with our commitment to innovation, insisting on continuous improvements to our quality and delivery performance. In 1998, Dan spearheaded an effort to achieve ISO 9001 certification, thus reinforcing our already exceptional quality standards. Dan has persisted in his commitement to quality and our certification has been continuously maintained to the current ISO 9001:2008 standard.
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In the tradition of its founder, The French Oil Mill Machinery Company continues to be an innovator. French has numerous new patents and products and is committed to an ongoing effort to improve its internal processes and maintain a close, cordial, and productive relationship with each stakeholder.
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