Built to Last: Marshalltown’s History of Innovation

Courtesy of Mechdyne

Businesses known for their creativity in Marshalltown are building on their records of innovation, focusing on new products that have the potential to transform their industries and make the world safer and more sustainable.

HVAC company Lennox was founded in Marshalltown in 1895 and continues introducing energy-efficient climate control systems for homes and commercial settings.

Mechdyne, founded in 1996 by three Iowa State University graduates, creates technology solutions for clients worldwide. The company’s first project focused on creating a virtual reality (VR) firefighting simulator for the U.S. Navy. Mechdyne has since expanded its capabilities and serves a variety of clients, including different branches of government as well as the military; manufacturers, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Renault; and other industries, such as major energy companies, entertainment and health care.

Emerson opened its Emerson Innovation Center for Fisher Technology in 2010 and performs flow testing for every Fisher control valve design that simulates real-world plant conditions. The company was founded in 1890, manufacturing electric motors and fans.

Courtesy of Mechdyne

Welcoming Environment

“Marshalltown has always been very open and accepting, especially for startup companies,” says Jim Gruening, one of Mechdyne’s founders.

When they launched the company, one of their fathers offered free use of a building in Marshalltown.

“We had no money. We were college graduates. We’re still here in Marshalltown,” Gruening says.

Mechdyne has 400 employees globally, 75 of whom work in the company’s two Marshalltown facilities.

Lennox’s Marshalltown facility has nearly 1 million square feet of manufacturing and office space. Renovated after the tornado that hit the city in 2018, the facility includes automated manufacturing capability, offices and a museum.

The company manufactures systems for homes as well as retail establishments, restaurants, schools, supermarkets, office buildings and other commercial applications.

Emerson’s history of innovation in Marshalltown goes back to 1880 when William Fisher invented the Type 1 constant pressure pump governor, the precursor to Fisher’s control valves today. For more than 140 years, engineers and experts in Marshalltown have designed and developed a full portfolio of advanced and intelligent valves to serve the world’s most challenging industrial applications.

Courtesy of Mechdyne

Record of Excellence

“Emerson technologies and innovation help make the world healthier, safer, smarter and more sustainable. Fisher valve innovations help industrial operations that serve the world’s most critical needs, like energy, power, water and more, to operate more efficiently, reliably and safely,” says Kevin Meyer, president of flow controls for Emerson.

Marshalltown is home to Emerson’s Innovation Center for Fisher Technology, where the company develops and tests its industry-leading portfolio of valves, actuators and regulators for the industrial market.

“We take great pride in developing our products, side by side with our customers, for real-world applications. We have several engineering centers around the world, but Marshalltown is still the headquarters of our valve business,” Meyer says.

The Innovation Center building, including Flow Lab (68,000 square feet), is 342,615 square feet, and the company has a total of 976,000 square feet in Marshalltown.

“There’s a passageway, which connects our two main buildings, that is lined with hundreds of patents that our employees have received over the past several decades for their innovations. We have 10 Marshalltown employees in the history of our business with over 20 patents each who are commemorated on a wall in our innovation center. In the last five years alone, our business has been awarded over 1,200 global patents, about 250 of which are in the United States,” Meyer says.