Family Timeline

Heidtman Family History & Timeline

1930s-1940s: An Early Career in Steel

Frederick William Heidtman (Fred) was an Executive at the Bingham Stamping & Tool Company in Toledo, Ohio. His expertise leads him to head the merger that creates the Bingham-Herbrand Corporation in 1947.

1947-1950: A Stepping Stone

After being pushed out of the new corporation, Fred Heidtman briefly becomes Vice President of The Landscape Supply Company of Toledo. He ultimately left to pursue his vision, applying his knowledge and expertise to start his own steel company to secure his and his family's future.

1950: A New Beginning

Frederick William Heidtman (Fred) establishes Heidtman Steel Products, Co. in 1950 with a focus on shearing, fabrication, leveling, processing and steel supply/distribution, originally out of a 5,000-square-foot plant at 716 Laskey Road in Toledo, Ohio with 5-10 employees, two straight trucks and one welding/torch service truck. Heidtman was founded as a premier processor and supplier of precision flat rolled carbon steel products, including hot and cold rolled. Shortly thereafter around 1953, his son F. William Heidtman, II (Bill) joins the business, as well as his daughter Louanne as a bookkeeper and the family is at the helm.

1962: A Founders Passing

In 1962, Fred Heidtman the founder of Heidtman Steel, passes away at age 64. His son, Bill Heidtman takes full leadership of the company becoming President and Chairman, with his mother Margery Heidtman being Owner, continuing the family legacy. By this time Heidtman Steel had 15-20 employees. - In 1963, Bill Heidtman hired a young 19 year old named John Bates to originally just work a temporary summer job in the plant as a laborer after the recommendation of John's father who was a salesman at Detroit steel, but John soon would rise through the ranks and become plant manager after Bill saw his potential. The two became close friends, but it was not as a "partnership" contrary to popular belief or rewritten stories.

1965: Palm Sunday Tornado

A major challenge was presented when the steel operation was completely destroyed by a tornado in 1965, but through the family's determination, and with the kindness of a friendly competitor (Robert 'Cam' Smith, became long time family friends) who lent them a facility as well as the ability to use there equipment at night, the company survived. Employee John Bates borrowed $25,000 from the company to purchase a small stake.

1966-1967: Bill Heidtman Purchases Heidtman Steel

After the death of his father Fred in 1962, Bill bought Heidtman Steel Products from his mother on a land contract in 1966. Temporarily operating a facility at 2449 Hill Ave in Toledo before Bill moved the company to a 70,000-square-foot Plant on 8 acres at 5601 Enterprise Blvd in Toledo's Fort Industry Industrial Park in 1967.

1971-mid 70s: Pioneering New Technology

Steel slitting equipment came first, in 1971. In the mid '70s, the automotive industry began seeking ways to reduce weight and increase fuel efficiency during the energy crisis. Heidtman responded by pioneering the certification and marketing of high-strength low-alloy sheet steels, becoming the first to supply high-strength steel to automakers. Its sophisticated testing equipment, specialized expertise and a commitment to finding innovative solutions for customer needs helped set Heidtman apart from the rest of the service center industry. With the big three (Ford, Gm, Chrysler) becoming our biggest customers even still today, in the 70s if you were looking for high-strength steel, you either got it straight from the Mill or from Heidtman. In the early 70s Heidtman began operating the 20 acre Campus on Lavoy Rd in Bedford Township, MI (Erie). By mid 70s Heidtman had a fleet of 30+ steel hauling semi's to provide premier steel delivery and transportation.

1977: Tom Heidtman's Career Begins

Tom Heidtman (Bills son) joins Heidtman Steel after graduating high school and while going to college. Beginning what will be a 48-year career, dedicating himself to the company's operation and success. First starting out working in the plant and then working his way up in the office, mainly working in the Production Department until 2025.

1979: Bedford, Michigan Hydrochloric Pickling Facility (Erie)

In 1979, Heidtman Steel completed a major expansion as a flat rolled steel service center by constructing its first continuous hydrochloric pickling facility in Bedford, Michigan (Erie) at the Heidtman Campus located on Lavoy Rd after being commissioned by Bill Heidtman. By the late 1970s, Heidtman Steel had grown to $36 million in annual sales (equivalent to over $150 million today when adjusted for inflation).

1981-1982: Granite City, Illinois Plant 

In 1982, Bill Heidtman secures the site, funding, and commissions the construction of the Granite City plant. The Plant is 92,000-square-feet, employed approximately 50+ employees, has a state-of-the-art hydrochloric pickling line and processes approximately 30,000 tons of steel per month, originally on a 35 acre site. This expansion is a testament to his continued leadership and vision for the company's future, giving the original idea of mill adjacent processing facilities. By this time Heidtman Steel had 270+ employees, 5 Plants across the Midwest and numerous affiliated companies such as Bedford Steel Processing and Stateline Steel Products, as well as 35-40+ steel hauling semis and straight trucks.

1983: Expansion and the End of an era

Throughout the ‘80s, Heidtman dramatically expanded the size and scope of its operations, as it developed the largest pickling capacity of any service center in the U.S. In 1983, Bill Heidtman lost controlling shares and ownership, Long Time Employee John Bates gains control and ownership. Bill is retained as Flat Rolled Specialist at the Front Street Location in Toledo until his final retirement in the mid 90s. - Bill Heidtman received the 'President's Lifetime Achievement Award' from the 'Metals Service Center Institute' in the mid 2000s. He would pass away in 2018 at age 84.

Late 80s-2019: Clearing the way

In the late 80s and early 90s while working at Heidtman Steel and then National Galvanizing, Jeff Heidtman (Bill's son) founded Heidtman-Northern Tree Service, Corp. in Temperance Michigan. Which becomes a Full Service Tree Company doing utility line clearance, municipal, industrial and residential. With a focus on Crane Services, Tree Removal/Trimming, Land Clearing, Vegetation Management, Grinding, and Logistical Support. Operated until 2019 (Defunct) 

Mid to Late 2000s-2010s

By the mid 2000s, Heidtman Steel had 1,000+ employees, 11 plants/facilities across the U.S., annual revenues of over $700+ million and processed nearly five million tons of steel annually. Heidtman Steel’s Trucking Division was called Mizar Motors and had a fleet of 100+ Trucks and hundreds of transportation assets. - The trucking division was based out of two truck dealerships Heidtman Steel owned, Freightliner of Toledo and Great Lakes Western Star. Heidtman Steel also owned the only underground coal mine in Arkansas, Controlling over 30 million tons of low volatile metallurgical coal under the name Heidtman Mining, LLC. Heidtman Steel even owned a Corporate Lear Jet and Hanger on smith road at the Toledo Suburban Airport in Ottawa Lake, Michigan.

2021: Heidtman Enterprises is Founded by Tom Heidtman, Jr.

In 2021, Tom Heidtman, Jr. (Tom's son) founded Heidtman Enterprises, LLC. as a construction and industrial service company that specializes in large-scale land clearing, forestry, demolition, excavation, reclamation, mining support, waste solutions and material supply in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Based in Temperance, Michigan/Toledo, Ohio, and serves residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal clients. (Thomas John William Heidtman)

2025: Tom Heidtman departs Heidtman Steel

In April 2025, After dedicating his life's work to the company, Tom Heidtman departs Heidtman Steel. This marks the end of his nearly half-century of service to the company his grandfather founded and father grew. First starting out working in the plant in 1977 and then working his way up in the office, mainly in the Production Department until 2025. Tom, Sr. is known for his unwavering loyalty and dedication, no matter what was thrown at him. This also marks the first time since its inception that a Heidtman is unfortunately not at Heidtman Steel. (Thomas Edward Heidtman)