The Marmon Group, Inc. - Introduction

Introduction

225 West Washington Street
Chicago, Illinois 60606-3418
U.S.A.

Telephone: (312) 372-9500
Fax: (312) 845-5305
Web site: http://www.marmon.com

Private Company
Incorporated: 1953 as The Colson Company
Employees: 22,000
Sales: $6 billion (2004)
NAIC: 315211 Men's and Boys' Cut and Sew Apparel Contractors; 316999 All Other Leather Good Manufacturing; 331421 Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding; 331316 Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing; 332611 Spring (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing; 332722 Bolt, Nut, Screw, Rivet, and Washer Manufacturing; 332913 Plumbing Fixture Fitting and Trim Manufacturing; 332919 Other Metal Valve and Pipe Fitting Manufacturing; 333111 Farm Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing; 334412 Bare Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing; 336510 Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing; 339112 Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing; 421510 Metals Service Centers and Offices; 532411 Commercial Air, Rail, and Water Transportation Equipment Rental and Leasing; 532490 Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing; 551112 Offices of Other Holding Companies

The Marmon Group, Inc., one of the largest privately owned organizations in the United States, is in essence a holding company for more than 100 autonomously operated manufacturing and service companies, many of which are leaders in their respective industries. A small central office in Chicago (with about 70 employees) manages and invests the financial resources of member companies, and aids and advises them on accounting, legal, tax, finance, personnel, and other matters.

Marmon companies consistently achieve high returns from low-technology, low-glamour industries. Marmon has repeatedly bought and turned around troubled "smokestack" companies. With about 300 facilities in 20 countries, the Marmon Group today earns about half of its revenues from service companies and about half from manufacturers. The major sectors represented by Marmon companies are agricultural, industrial, and medical equipment; automotive equipment; building and commercial products; consumer and health care products; industrial materials and components; marketing, finance, and information services; mining equipment; railway equipment; and water treatment products. The Marmon Group has been built up and managed by members of the Pritzker family, which was dividing its holdings among eleven heirs.