How It Started
Jim and Jean Partridge started Big Bolt in Elk Grove Village in a little 5,000 square foot facility in 1977. Within a couple of years, Big Bolt quickly outgrew its space and the family moved it to a 15,000 square foot facility also in Elk Grove Village. At the time, Big Bolt only had ten full-time employees, including their son Pat. Tom joined the family business in 1979.
By 1982, 38 full-time employees were working for the company, so the business was moved once again, this time into a 30,000 square foot facility in Bensenville, IL.
But Big Bolt kept growing, acquiring Abacus drilling and retaining all its staff in 1988. The acquisition not only launched the business into today’s 7-10 day lead times but ushered Big Bolt’s move into a 60,000 square foot facility in Itasca, IL, in 1989. Jim and Jean retired to Florida and left day to day running of the company to Tom and Pat.
The company stayed there until 1996. Under Tom and Pat Partridge's management, there were soon over 100 full-time employees running two shifts. The family went west to Bloomingdale and built the current 130,000 square foot facility.
In 2002, the company acquired AB&O manufacturing, which added the ACME rod product line and expanded its customer base and inventory options in 2010 with the acquisition of Erwin Screw.
Big Bolt built a fantastic team of employees, the vast majority with twenty-plus years experience. This is the backbone of our company and the reason for our success.
How It’s Going
Tom and Pat's legacy continues on at Big Bolt.
Big Bolt is now the largest specialty job shop fastener manufacturer in the Midwest, serving customers in the United States and around the world in a variety of industries, including:
Big Bolt is ISO-9001-certified, capable of 24/7 emergency manufacturing.
Our state-of-the-art 110,000 square foot facility houses more than 12 CNC machines, along with the supporting tools and equipment needed to effectively manufacture our products in-house. From our most massive bolts to our smallest fasteners.
And quality is paramount. Our plating, heating and testing capabilities ensure our products meet the most rigorous industry standards. We can produce a number of product certifications and have 20 full-time employees in our Quality Control Department alone.
Plus, our broad range of inventory goes well beyond bolts. We maintain a large stock of raw material, heat-treated blanks, and pre-finished products so we can quickly fulfill emergency orders — even on the same day.
