our history
Corporate history & Legacy
Founded in 1915, The George Evans Corporation began as Evans Manufacturing Company, producing sheet-metal components for early automobiles and quickly expanding with a new factory in 1918. Incorporated in 1926, the company grew through the 1930s–1980s by supplying major manufacturers, developing the Evans oil-burning furnace, becoming a leading originator and producer of TOROIDAL® cable reels, and adding capabilities for farm equipment, elevators, escalators, and custom sheet-metal fabrication.
Through world wars, economic downturns, floods, and major shifts in industry, GEC continued to innovate—building its own mesh-filter manufacturing equipment, partnering with Augustana College for product testing, and expanding facilities to meet new demand.
The company’s growth included the adoption of computer-based manufacturing systems, and the evolution of product lines from cookware and military components to modern metal fabrication and cable-handling solutions.
What has never changed is the company’s commitment to quality, integrity, and serving its customers. For over a century, GEC has manufactured everything from tractor gas tanks and WWII tank-destroyer parts to today’s TOROIDAL® reels and custom metal components for OEM clients.
The company’s roots also remain embedded in its original location, chosen for its historic rail access, where early employees unloaded steel by hand and where the business still thrives today.
leadership tradition
The George Evans Corporation has been shaped by generations of dedicated leaders. From founder George E. Evans and his family through decades of Evans-family stewardship, each era brought new growth, innovation, and stability. Today, with support from the Board of Directors and long-tenured staff, GEC enters its next century with renewed energy, forward-thinking leadership, and an unwavering commitment to customers, employees, and the community.
Andrea Crawford, the current CEO of The George Evans Corporation, brings a clear and future-focused vision to the organization. Building on the company’s century-long foundation of craftsmanship, integrity, and customer partnership, she is leading GEC into a new era of operational excellence, strategic investment, and modernized manufacturing capabilities. Andrea is committed to strengthening the company’s competitive position through continuous improvement, workforce development, and technology-driven processes, while preserving the values that have defined GEC since 1915. Her leadership reflects a balance of tradition and innovation—ensuring that The George Evans Corporation remains a trusted partner and an industry leader for decades to come.