Our History

In the early 1930s, Joseph E. Horste formed Horste Manufacturing in Detroit, Michigan after working as a mechanical engineer for Detroit Harvester. In 1938 he moved to Belleville, Michigan and reorganized as Horst Manufacturing Company. With World War II looming, Horst began producing war material, particularly tank track components for our Lee, Grant, and Sherman tanks. 

The company was the proud recipient of the Army/Navy Excellence in Production or “E” award, a recognition established in 1942 to recognize industries for their outstanding production contributions to the war and Navy departments. While all factories involved in war production were eligible for the award, this honor was only accorded to 5% of wartime industries. 

Horst continued producing track until 1985, ten years after the founder’s passing. 

Today, the spirit and knowledge which gained Horst such high distinction for performance and quality is carried on at Horst Manufacturing in Windham, Ohio by founders Eric LaCruze, J.E. Horste’s grandson and Robert Meszaros. Both of whom worked through the interim years at other facilities and are now carrying on the Horst legacy, learning and perfecting these processes. 

Horst has expanded and adapted as the economic environment has changed, and is now a leader in machining products from Nylon, working closely with chemists and manufacturers to make tailored product available to market that improve both cost and performance to customers. 

Our business model is taken from an age past; the priorities being quality, integrity, and family. Fair pay for fair work, transparency, and streamlined efficiency in production, packaging, and delivery with confidentiality to our customers.