History

A legacy of speed, quality & customer service

Headquartered in Bloomingdale, IL, Big Bolt is ISO-certified and has been manufacturing high-quality fasteners and specialty fasteners for over 45 years.
started-image
large-img 1

How It Started

In 1977, Jim and Jean Partridge founded Big Bolt in a modest 5,000 square foot facility in Elk Grove Village. The company quickly outgrew this space, prompting a move to a 15,000 square foot facility in the same area within a few years. At that time, Big Bolt had just 10 full-time employees, including their son Pat. Tom joined the family business in 1979.

By 1982, the workforce had expanded to 38 full-time employees, necessitating another move to a 30,000 square foot facility in Bensenville, IL.

A History of Successful Acquisitions

Big Bolt’s growth continued with the acquisition of Abacus Drilling in 1988, retaining all its staff. This acquisition not only improved lead times to 7-10 days but also led to a move to a 60,000 square foot facility in Itasca, IL, in 1989. Jim and Jean retired to Florida, leaving the day-to-day operations to Tom and Pat.

The company remained in Itasca until 1996. Under Tom and Pat Partridge’s leadership, the workforce grew to over 100 full-time employees running two shifts. The family then moved west to Bloomingdale, constructing the current 130,000 square foot facility.

In 2002, Big Bolt acquired AB&O Manufacturing, adding the ACME rod product line. The company further expanded its customer base and inventory options in 2010 with the acquisition of Erwin Screw.

Successful-1
Successful-2
Successful-3
bolt

Continuing the legacy of speed, quality and customer service.

In 2019, Big Bolt was sold to Tenex Capital Management. The management team has maintained the company’s ethos of speed, quality, and customer service in an increasingly complex global supply chain.

In 2023, Big Bolt continued its expansion with the acquisition of Delta Secondary. This acquisition not only brought in a talented group of employees and new capabilities but also solidified Big Bolt’s position as the premier specialty fastener manufacturer in the Midwest.

Today, Big Bolt combines a legacy of great people with cutting-edge manufacturing capabilities. With significant investments in inventory, fabrication capacity, quality processes, and enterprise technology, Big Bolt is poised to serve its customers well into the next century.