A New Chapter in a Story More Than a Century in the Making

For more than 117 years, Humboldt Mfg. Co. has been committed to quality, innovation, and exceptional service. Today, we announce an important leadership transition as Dennis Burgess steps down from his role and Richard G. Beinhauer assumes leadership of Humboldt Mfg. Co.

While leadership changes mark important milestones, Humboldt's foundation remains unchanged. Our commitment to our customers, dealer partners, employees, and the global construction materials testing community continues as strong as ever.

In 1909, when Humboldt Manufacturing Company was founded in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood, the world looked very different from what it does today.

The automobile was still a novelty. Commercial aviation did not yet exist. Radio broadcasting was in its infancy. The internet, social media, artificial intelligence, robotics, and many of the technologies we now take for granted were still generations away.

Yet through every era of change, Humboldt has remained.

For more than 117 years, Humboldt has served the testing and laboratory industry, helping engineers, researchers, contractors, government agencies, and educational institutions build the infrastructure that shapes our world. Throughout that time, our company has endured and grown through some of the most significant events in modern history.

We have operated through World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, multiple economic recessions, the global financial crisis, and unprecedented technological revolutions. We have witnessed the transition from handwritten records to computers, from printed catalogs to online commerce, and from local communication to instant global connectivity.

Few companies can claim a history that spans so many generations while remaining in continuous operation. Fewer still can say they have continued to evolve and grow through every stage of that journey.

The reason is simple.

Humboldt has never stood still.

What began as a manufacturer of cement testing equipment has grown into a global supplier of construction materials testing equipment, serving customers in laboratories, universities, government agencies, and construction projects throughout the world. While our products have changed dramatically over the decades, our commitment to quality, innovation, and customer service has remained constant.

Today, our equipment is used daily in laboratories across the globe. Through our network of dealers and partners, we provide local support backed by American manufacturing expertise. We communicate with customers instantly across continents, operate sophisticated online systems, and deliver solutions that would have been unimaginable when our company was founded.

And yet, the pace of change is accelerating.

The next chapter of manufacturing and laboratory testing is already emerging through automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, connected devices, and advanced data analysis. At Humboldt, we believe these technologies will transform the way laboratories operate, improving efficiency, consistency, safety, and productivity.

Rather than simply reacting to these changes, we intend to help lead them.

We will continue to manufacture the dependable testing equipment that laboratories rely on every day, while also investing in the technologies that will define the laboratories of tomorrow. Our ongoing investments in software development, automation, robotics, and AI-driven solutions are already shaping the future direction of our products and services.

As we enter this exciting new era, Humboldt is also marking an important leadership transition.

After years of dedicated leadership, Dennis Burgess is passing the baton to Richard G. Beinhauer.

Under Dennis’s leadership, Humboldt strengthened its position as a global leader in construction materials testing equipment, expanded its international presence, invested heavily in innovation, and continued the tradition of quality and customer service that has defined the company for generations. We are deeply grateful for his commitment, leadership, and contributions to Humboldt’s continued success.

Now, Richard assumes responsibility for guiding Humboldt through its next chapter.

Richard brings decades of manufacturing and engineering leadership experience. As President and CEO of M&R Precision Machining, he has built a reputation for excellence in high-precision manufacturing and advanced engineering. What began as a small machining job shop has grown under his leadership into a multi-million-dollar aerospace manufacturing facility, serving some of the industry's most demanding applications. His career has supported the aerospace industry with technologies related to unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and other advanced aerospace applications where precision, reliability, and innovation are essential.  With a background in Industrial Engineering and Mechanical Design, Richard understands both the manufacturing excellence that built Humboldt and the emerging technologies that will shape its future.

Most importantly, he shares the belief that has guided Humboldt for more than a century: that lasting success comes from continually adapting, innovating, and investing in the future while never compromising on quality or customer commitment.

The world will continue to change.

New technologies will emerge. Industries will evolve. Customer expectations will grow. The laboratories of the future may look very different from those of today.

But one thing will remain constant.

Humboldt will continue doing what it has done since 1909: building quality equipment, supporting our customers and dealer partners, embracing innovation, and preparing for the opportunities ahead.

Dennis helped lead Humboldt to this point.

Richard will help define the vision for the decades to come.

Together, they represent a continuation of the same story, a company that has successfully adapted to every generation of change and is preparing to do so again.

“Few companies have the privilege of serving their industry for more than a century. Our responsibility is not simply to preserve the legacy, but to build upon it. The next generation of Humboldt will honor our history while embracing the technologies and innovations that will shape the next 50 years.”

 Richard G. Beinhauer, CEO

Thank you for your continued trust, partnership, and support as we begin this next chapter together.