The history of our valve company, precision machining, and various services
For over half a century, FEMA Corporation has worked to deliver high performance and reliable valves. Offering an unparalleled selection of standard or custom hydraulic valves. We have built our reputation around our ability to meet – and exceed – our customers’ expectations. To learn more about our history, we encourage you to browse the timeline on this page.
1960s
- Race to the Moon: our founder, Mr. Bob Banfield contributes to NASA’s space and ballistic missiles programs
- Bob establishes “a company using aerospace level technology for industrial products” in California: FEMA Corporation
1970s
- FEMA moves to Michigan to access primary markets, major highways, universities, talent, and aero technology
- FEMA develops the force motor: proportional control valves for industrial applications such as injection mold machines
1980s
- FEMA gains recognition on a challenging military tank application: electro-hydraulic (EH) transmission control
- FEMA develops control valves for off-road power shift transmissions (PST) and “latching” valves for on-road power shift transmissions.
- FEMA expands to brake-by-wire and traction aid systems
- FEMA develops technology enabling the first off-road power-shift transmission
1990s
- PST EH program with low-cost proportional valves and patented power take off (PTO) control valve
- FEMA expands to a larger site
- Wins key supplier awards through the 1990s and continues to the present (2020s)
- FEMA becomes an ESOP, initially with employee ownership of a portion of the company
2000s
- FEMA develops analytics, new markets, and grows to international markets
- FEMA develops Innovation Award-winning steering products developed for satellite navigation
- FEMA enters the sectional valve market and grows into packaged hydraulics
- Component manufacturing and machining is created to support assembly and test operations
2010s
- FEMA becomes 100% employee owned
- Innovation Award-winning development continues: energy saving EH proportional regulating valve
- Further expansions in manufacturing and automation
- Land purchased for second campus in Otsego, MI
2020s
- Continuing award-winning innovations in the electro-hydraulic valve market
- Diversifying into other markets with new products and services
- Second campus completed; primarily for Component Manufacturing
- New front office completed at our Portage valve location, primarily for administration, compliance, engineering, human resources, production control, and purchasing.
- Looking forward to serving existing and new customers in our next 50 years of growth
