History of Bonnell Aluminum

Starting with humble beginnings, Bonnell Aluminum has a long heritage of dedication to manufacturing highly customized products tailored to meet the strictest standards and most complex specifications of our individual customers.

1903- William Bonnell was born on a Missouri ranch. Later in life, he became a trick rider and, eventually, a metallurgist. He began his career with and later became a partner in B&T Flooring Co., a flooring contracting firm in Columbus, OH.

Seeking ways to better serve customers, the principals began finishing jobs with decorative metal trim. That is when Mr. Bonnell's training elevated him in his field. He was first to design and market a pre-formed sink frame, a development which contributed to the popularity and growth of resilient materials in countertop applications during that period. He was the originator of more than 500 shapes still in use today.

1939- B & T purchased an extrusion press and was first in the industry to do in-house extruding.

WWII- When scientists of the Manhattan project needed to find methods for extruding radioactive uranium samples to be used in the first atomic bomb, they sought the expertise of B & T and Mr. Bonnell.

1945- Mr. Bonnell became general superintendent of Trimedge Corp., Youngstown, Ohio, where he continued his record of leadership. When the firm became Trimedge, Inc., he became vice-president and general manager.

1952- The company bought a press from United Extruders in Newnan, Georgia.

1953- Construction began at the site of the present Newnan, Georgia facility.

1955- Mr. Bonnell bought out his partner's share of what had become 'Trimedge of Georgia, Inc.', along with the Trimedge patents and trademarks.

He incorporated the Trimedge name and line of decorative moldings in addition to other lines of products and finishes popular in today's markets. He was named president of the new entity, 'The William L Bonnell Co., Inc'--now known as Bonnell Aluminum.

Under his direction, the Georgia plant capacity increased 325% within two years. A national sales organization was developed and a company was born which, even today, serves as a benchmark for the markets in which it participates.

1960- Mr. Bonnell died shortly after making the final payment to his former partner for full ownership of the company. The 5-year payoff was completed in half of the time called for in the original agreement.

1965- The company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Ethyl Corporation.

1969- A new facility was opened in Carthage, Tennessee, and Newnan, Georgia became division headquarters for Ethyl's aluminum group.

1973- Ethyl acquired Capitol Products, a fabricator of aluminum windows. The purchase included manufacturing facilities in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and Kentland, Indiana. With the Capitol Products acquisition, Bonnell became a premier supplier to the building and construction market.

1989- Ethyl Corporation spun off its Aluminum, Plastics, and Energy holdings into a separate business entity named Tredegar Corporation with The William L Bonnell Company Co., Inc. as a core business unit.

Today- Through the leadership of Bonnell's current president, Duncan Crowdis, and the support of Tredegar Corporation, Bonnell Aluminum continues the innovative spirit upon which Bill Bonnell founded the company. Operating three manufacturing facilities and thirteen extrusion presses, Bonnell is North America's premier architectural commercial aluminum extrusion manufacturer.