History

The original company was founded in 1911 by Thomas E. Adams, Sr., and operated under the name of Beatrice Steel Tank Company. The firm manufactured culverts, stock tanks, well casings, grain bins and miscellaneous farm supplies. For thirty years the company grew steadily.

The company remained in farm fabrication from 1935 until early 1942, when several large navy contracts for ordnance materials were received. Over 50% of all depth charges used by the U.S. and Allies during WWII were manufactured in Beatrice. “Steel Tank,” as the company was called locally, also manufactured 8” and 16” powder tanks, cartridge tanks and pistol containers.

The war years brought experience in the fabrication of metal containers which enabled the company to enter the aluminum fabrication and beer barrel business. The company added other product lines in 1946 and 1947, such as corrugated culvert pipe, corrugated storage buildings for grain and pre-mix containers for vending machines.

In 1949, Beatrice Steel Tank entered the bulk material-handling field under a licensing agreement with Tote Engineering, Inc. of Seattle, Washington. This began the evolution of the present firm. Pre-mix containers were produced for Cherry Burrell’s soft drink lines and the original farm equipment line was replaced by stainless steel beer barrels.

Beatrice Steel Tank was purchased by Universal Wire Spring Company of Bedford, Ohio in 1959. In May of 1960, these two companies merged and were acquired by Hoover Ball and Bearing of Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company changed its name to Tote Systems. The parent company’s name changed to Hoover Universal, Inc. in 1977, and in May 1985, Hoover Universal, Inc. became a wholly owned subsidiary of Johnson Controls, Inc.

In November of 1985, Johnson Controls, Inc. sold the Beatrice plant and 17 other plants acquired from Hoover Universal, Inc. to Citicorp Venture Capital. Hoover Materials Handling Group, Inc. was formed.

In 1990, the purchase of Material Handling Associates of Fairhope, Alabama added 3,000 rental tanks to the company’s offerings. In June of 1994, Hoover purchased another rental fleet from Allwaste Container Services, and added another 2,000 tanks to its inventory. Through the partnership of Hoover Materials Handling Group, Inc. and Allwaste Container Services, the rental program was supported by a nationwide recycling and cleaning program that established recycling centers across North America.

The acquisition of Chemical Handling Equipment Company (CHEC) in April 1992, provided Hoover with the capability of producing rotationally molded, reusable tanks.

In November of 1997, Hoover acquired Tubingen Plastics Group in Charlotte, North Carolina. This acquisition added the manufacturing of 35- and 55-gallon plastic drums, and reverse logistics, cleaning and fleet management services.

In January of 1998, Hoover acquired Endural, a W.D. Adam company, based in Costa Mesa, California. Endural manufactures plastic, vacuum-formed material handling containers used in automotive, aerospace and electronics industries. Hoover sold Endural in 2006.

In 2003, Hoover divested its blow-molding operations to focus its activities on metal and rotationally molded IBCs and dry material handling equipment. Hoover's rich history of pioneering and innovating material handling solutions has earned the company a reputation for the highest quality products and loyal customers.

In 2007, to meet the demands of our fastest growing market, the petrochemical industry, Hoover moved manufacturing operations from Nebraska to Houston Texas. The new location supports all of Hoover's functions, streamlining communication internally and with customer.

Today, Hoover is internationally recognized as a manufacturer of metal and roto-moulded intermediate bulk containers. Hoover continues to draw from its’ long history and experience to offer the best product and service to its' customers.