The History Of BTM Corporation

BTM Corporation of Marysville, Michigan was founded in 1966 by Mr. Ed Sawdon & Mr. Milus Allison as a manufacturer of bending machines for the automotive and appliance industries. The initials BTM were coined as an abbreviation for “Bending Tools & Manufacturing”.

BTM gained a reputation for high quality workmanship and problem solving ability in the bending industry, and out of that problem solving ability came the next important development for BTM Corporation.

One problem which manufacturers of automotive trim and similar items encountered often was parts requiring holes pierced on close centers.

In the drive to reduce production costs, these manufacturers were searching for ways to eliminate multiple operations which were necessary to pierce on close centers.

Mr. Sawdon, in examining this problem, conceived of a press which would be thin enough in design to pierce on close centers within a single work station. Years later, after a time of development, the first BTM air powered toggle press was put on test and performed beyond all expectations.

The next important development for BTM was the patented TOG-L-LOC sheet metal joining system. Later, after the introduction of the toggle press Mr. Sawdon developed TOG-L-LOC as an alternative to spot welding, riveting and other conventional methods of joining.

TOG-L-LOC offers numerous advantages; No rivets or fasteners, no secondary operations, reduced and simplified maintenance, no transformers or cooling lines, no heat buildup, joining of dissimilar metals and coated metals, leakproof joints, high repeatability, non-destructive checking, long tool life and more.

Numerous private concerns have subjected TOG-L-LOC to some rigorous testing programs with some impressive results, particularly in the areas of vibration resistance and consistency.

The joint is produced in a single stroke, by simple punch and die tooling fitted to BTM presses or most other conventional presses.

Today, BTM Corporation has expanded into a full service industrial product and tooling organization, with modern manufacturing facilities at several locations in the U.S. (arrangements for overseas production are in progress as well). A number of new innovations are under development at BTM headquarters, and the tradition of creative problem solving and quality workmanship is held to as the product line increases in scope.

BTM Corporation of Marysville, Michigan is a rapidly growing force in the drive for world class product quality and reduced production costs in manufacturing today.