History - Crysteel

1969

Crysteel began in 1969 when Eldon and Helen Jones borrowed $25,000 and purchased machine tools for welding and steel fabrication. They then rented a small shop in Arlington, MN to produce Eldon’s design for a truck hoist. In 1970, a Small Business Administration loan allowed Eldon and Helen to open a facility in Lake Crystal. It was then Eldon coined the name Crysteel (pronounced kris-teel) Manufacturing. The word “Crysteel” is a combination of crystal and steel. Things really took off after that. Here’s a historical profile of Crysteel Manufacturing, Inc.

Crysteel Timeline

1969

Crysteel founders Eldon and Helen Jones borrow $25,000 and purchase machine tools for welding and steel fabrication. They rent a small shop in Arlington, MN to produce Eldon’s design for a truck hoist.

1970

A Small Business Administration loan allows Eldon and Helen to open a 9,600 sqft facility in Lake Crystal, MN. Eldon coins the name Crysteel (pronounced kris-teel) Manufacturing as a combination of crystal and steel.

1978

Designed to be the most efficient municipal underbody dump hoist in the industry.

1980

The first Crysteel dump body (or as Eldon called it – tipper) goes into production as a companion for the Combo-Hoist.

1986

The Roller-Combo, an improved version of the Combo-Hoist is introduced. The Triple Tipper 3-way dump body is introduced at the NTEA convention in New Orleans.

1989

The Stingray hoist is introduced to offer a low profile powerful hoist for bodies/platforms up to 28′.

1997

Crysteel is awarded a $7 million contract with Freightliner Corp. to produce dump bodies for the U.S. Government on the M917A project.

2002

J-Craft, a regional manufacturer of truck equipment and accessories, is acquired by Crysteel Mfg. and added to the family as a direct-to-end-user and truck dealer piece of the business.

2003

Crysteel introduces The Deuce at the annual NTEA Convention in Atlanta. With the ability to dump from both the rear and the side, the highly innovative Deuce becomes a hot new product.

2005

Truck Bodies & Equipment International (TBEI) purchases Crysteel Mfg, including both the J-Craft and Crysteel brands. TBEI joins Crysteel Mfg. with Ox Bodies and Rugby Mfg. Together, these three first-class independent manufacturers provide “World-Class Precision & Performance in Truck Bodies & Equipment”

2013

Crysteel’s quality processes are certified to ISO 9001:2008.

2016

Crysteel’s quality processes are certified to ISO 9001:2015.

2017

Federal Signal Corporation (FSS) purchases TBEI, including Crysteel Manufacturing.