LECO Corporation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Analytical instruments, Metallographic instruments, Ceramic components |
| Founded | 1936 |
| Founder | Carl Schultz, George Krasl |
| Headquarters | St. Joseph , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Robert J. Warren (former president), Warren family (current CEOs) |
| Products | Elemental analyzers, Molecular Time-of-flight mass spectrometers, Combustion analyzers, Metallographic instruments, Ceramic components |
| Owner | Warren family |
Number of employees | One of the largest employers in southwestern Michigan (exact number not specified) |
LECO Corporation, established in 1936 by Carl Schultz and George Krasl, is engaged in the research, development, and production of analytical instruments at its main facility located in St. Joseph, Michigan. The company focuses on elemental analysis and molecular Time-of-flight mass spectrometry devices, operating in compliance with ISO 9000 quality standards. The acronym LECO stands for Laboratory Equipment Corporation. One of its early innovations was a combustion analyzer created by Krasl in 1957, which incorporated crucibles designed by employee Eugene Bennet.
LECO's research initiatives cover various analytical chemistry areas, including food protein quantification, sulfur analysis in coal emissions, glow discharge emission spectroscopy for metals, multi-dimensional gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry, along with applications in environmental monitoring, air quality, Metabolomics, and pharmaceutical and medical fields. Since the 1970s, the company has also produced and supplied metallographic instruments and manufactures ceramic components for the foundry sector. LECO operates sales subsidiaries across the globe.
On June 8, 1977, Robert J. Warren (1933–2022), who was Carl Schultz’s son-in-law, along with his family, obtained full ownership of LECO by acquiring the remaining shares from the George J. Krasl Trust following Krasl’s passing in 1976. Warren began his tenure at LECO in 1968 and assumed the presidency in 1975. Under his guidance, LECO grew into an international provider of analytical instruments and metallographic equipment and became one of the largest employers in southwestern Michigan. He stepped down in 2016, with his sons taking over as CEOs.