Van Dyne Crotty

Van Dyne Crotty Inc.

Company type	Privately held company
Industry	Uniform rental and laundering services
Founded	1935
Founder	Lloyd Van Dyne, Fergus Crotty
Defunct	2006
Fate	Acquired by Cintas Corporation
Headquarters	Dayton, Ohio , United States
Area served	United States (primarily Ohio and Florida)
Key people	Dan Crotty (President and CEO, later years), Kevin Crotty (Executive Vice President), Robert Crotty (Vice President of Sales and Marketing)
Products	Uniform rental, floor mat rentals, health and hygiene services, apparel sales, corporate apparel programs, industrial services, first aid and safety supplies
Number of employees	1300
Parent	Cintas Corporation (from 2006)

Van Dyne Crotty Inc. was an American company specializing in uniform rental and laundering services, active from 1935 until 2006. Established by Lloyd Van Dyne and Fergus Crotty during the economic hardships of the Great Depression, the business began with a modest $500 loan and grew into a prominent privately held uniform service provider. It remained under family ownership for several generations before being acquired by Cintas Corporation () in 2006.

Founding

Lloyd Van Dyne and Fergus Crotty first crossed paths in 1934 at a small enterprise in Dayton, Ohio, which laundered rags for gas stations and industrial customers. Within a year, they obtained a $500 loan to buy out the business, rebranding it as "Van Dyne-Crotty" with the goal of enhancing operational efficiency and boosting sales.

First Generation

Despite interruptions caused by wartime closures and a significant fire, Van Dyne and Crotty successfully broadened their clientele beyond gas stations to include manufacturing companies like NCR, Delco, and Frigidaire, supporting the automotive sector in Southwest Ohio. They pioneered innovations such as the first standardized industrial wiping cloth and made strides in dry cleaning technology. From an initial investment of $500, the company expanded to an enterprise valued between $2 million and $3 million, becoming the first to offer rental entrance mats east of the Mississippi River. Following the deaths of Lloyd Van Dyne in 1962 and Fergus Crotty shortly thereafter, leadership transitioned to Fergus’ sons: Robert, Frank, and L. William Crotty.

Second Generation

During the early 1970s, L. William (Bill) Crotty and his brother Frank divided the company—then generating $8–10 million in revenue—into two separate operations: Van Dyne Crotty Company based in Columbus (managed by Frank) and Van Dyne Crotty Inc. headquartered in Dayton (led by Bill). Bill expanded the business into Cincinnati, Lima, and Toledo, while Frank launched an office in Akron. The company diversified its offerings by introducing glove refurbishment services for heavy industry clients and textile leasing programs, placing strong emphasis on employee incentive plans.

Bill’s three sons—Dan, Kevin, and Robert—joined during the late 1970s, taking charge of regional branches and corporate sales efforts. Under Bill’s guidance, annual revenues increased from $4 million to between $25 million and $30 million. By 1991, Dan assumed the roles of President and CEO, Kevin became Executive Vice President, and Robert took on Vice President of Sales and Marketing responsibilities. Expansion continued into Florida with the acquisition of Warren Uniform in Pompano Beach.

Third Generation

Led by Dan, Kevin, and Bob Crotty, the firm refined its strategy within the highly competitive uniform rental market. The company’s marketing slogan evolved from "The Very Fabric of American Industry" to "First in Lasting Impressions," eventually adopting "Uniforms That Work®".

Throughout the 1990s, Van Dyne Crotty broadened its portfolio to include seven apparel brands alongside two subsidiary operations:

• Uniforms That Work® – main uniform rental brand
• Floor Mat Systems – industrial floor mat rentals
• Health and Hygiene Services – commercial restroom supply distribution
• VDC Direct – apparel sales through catalog channels
• Corporate Apparel Programs – specialized service for large national accounts
• GOCasual.com – online platform for business casual attire
• Industrial Services – reusable textile solutions for printing industries
• First Aid Select – supplier of first aid and safety products
• Ritz Safety – distributor of industrial safety supplies acquired in 1999 from the Merkl family

In 1998, Chairman Bill Crotty established the L. William Crotty Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the University of Dayton School of Business Administration—a highly regarded program dedicated to nurturing new business ventures.

By 2000, under third-generation leadership, Van Dyne Crotty operated approximately 20 locations along with 12 processing centers recognized for engineering excellence. The workforce numbered around 1,300 employees organized into three main product divisions: Apparel Solutions, Facility Solutions, and First Aid & Safety Services. During this timeframe, sales surged from $30 million to $130 million. Colin Crotty, son of Kevin Crotty, joined as General Manager symbolizing the next generation’s involvement.

On February 10, 2006, Van Dyne Crotty was acquired by Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS), including 20 uniform rental facilities and five Select First Aid operations. The Ritz Safety division remained under Daniel and Robert Crotty’s ownership and has since grown through organic expansion as well as strategic acquisitions across new regions.