Franz (Frank) Elsner, Sr. and his wife Johanna immigrated to America in 1924 to escape the depression and turmoil of post World War I Germany. A german mechanical engineer, Frank held many jobs in his early years in his new country. He worked as a machinist, a patent drafter, a mechanical designer and a plant engineer in a cigar box factory.

It was the great depression and Frank's ability to make things work that would make Elsner a leader in designing and building the well engineered quality paper converting machinery for which we are so well known today.

The business started in a former broom factory with two employees and today occupies a 57,000 square foot state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with over 70 employees. Innovative design, customer satisfaction, and steady growth have always been the Elsner business plan. Started by Frank Elsner, Sr. that business plan continues to work today.

In 1934 Frank and Johanna Elsner founded Elsner Engineering Works and started their first machine development project, a slicer for the potato chip industry. This was followed by machines that manufactured cigar boxes and machines that automated fruit packing - such as fringe folders, apple packers, paper shredders and oilers.

In addition, Frank Elsner's designs included the Och's snow plow which was the forerunner of today's snow thrower, a jute roll former, and various machines for the cigar box industry.

In 1935, the corporate trademark was taken from the tape applying hexagon on a hinging machine, as shown above.

In 1954, Frank first saw the potential in redesigning the automatic rolling or rewinding machine. Frank thought the industry needed a machine that was more versatile, easier to set up, and did what the customer needed it to do. If the customer had a requirement, Elsner Engineering Works, Inc. had a machine.

The first Elsner rewinder and Elsner roll overwrapper were sold in December 1955 to Tuttle Press Company for their gift wrap line. These first two machines are shown in the above photographs.

From this humble beginning there are over 2,400 machines of various sizes and configurations operating in nearly 60 countries worldwide today.