The year was 1922. Industry was thriving, and St. Louis, Missouri, was one of the great shoe manufacturing capitals of the world. Sensing an opportunity, Louis Desloge Sr. founded Watlow to manufacture electric heating elements for shoe steamers and dryers.
Through the years, Mr. Desloge promoted electric heat as the new and better alternative to gas heat, which is both hard to control and confine, and steam heating, which is expensive to install and maintain. As our customers' industrial electric heating applications expanded, our engineers responded with innovative new products which soon became industry standards. We're continuing that tradition of providing outstanding heaters, sensors and controllers to insure your company enjoys the competitive advantage needed in today's global markets.