The year was 1924. A daunting problem Faced companies in the materials processing industry. Their combustion-heated Furnaces were incapable of providing the controlled atmosphere required to process advanced new materials.

Determined to find a solution, a young engineer and an electric company executive conceived a better heating method. They developed an electric-resistance-heated furnace capable of meeting the stringent new process requirements. The Harper Electric Furnace Corporation was born.

Offering precise control of atmosphere and temperature, Harper Furnaces quickly became a quality standard among materials processors and the Forerunner of many innovations to come