Smith Equipment2601 Lockheed Ave., Watertown, South Dakota, United States

Smith Equipment Manufacturing was founded by Elmer Smith in 1916 as “Smith Inventions”. Located in a garage in Minneapolis, Minnesota, it began as a small design and manufacturing operation, building a line of oxy-fuel welding and cutting equipment. In the 1950s, the business was expanded to supply, high pressure and specialty gas regulators for laboratories and aerospace applications. Looking for a more high tech name and fitting for those industries the company name was changed to TECOM Corporation which is an acronym for The Elmer Smith Company of Minnesota.

In 1981 the oxy-fuel equipment manufacturing portion of the business, then known as Smith Equipment was relocated to Watertown, South Dakota and the specialty gas regulation operations remained in Minneapolis. TESCOM Corporation was later purchased by three of its managers and in 1996 the Smith Equipment oxy- fuel manufacturing operations in Watertown were later acquired by the investment group, Full Circle Investments. In 1998 Smith Equipment was acquired by Illinois Tool Works (ITW) a Fortune 200 global diversified industrial manufacturer.

Miller Electric Mfg. Co. the most powerful welding equipment brand in North America and part of the same parent company (Illinois Tool Works Inc.) as Smith Equipment, has been working together for years aligning in the same principles and best practices in manufacturing. In 2013 the Smith Equipment line of oxy-fuel cutting products was consolidated under the Miller brand, making it possible to take advantage of the strength, equity and recognition of Miller, who has long been known and respected as an industry leader in metal welding and cutting technology.

The Watertown operation manufactures an extensive line of oxy-fuel, gas regulation, cutting, welding and heating equipment as well as specialty gas regulators, gas mixers, jewelers torches and aircraft pitot tubes.