WorldWide Drilling Resource

14 SEPTEMBER 2019 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Solving Customer Problems for Over a Century Adapted from Information by Mills Machine Company Very few companies survive 100 years in business. In fact, only about half of one percent of U.S. companies have survived for a century, and even fewer family-owned businesses have survived that long. Of the millions of U.S. family-owned busi- nesses, less than 1200 are over 110 years old and still under the same family ownership and operation. Mills Machine Company, Inc. is one of these companies, and customers understand why. 1900s - 1920s: The company originated in Shawnee, Oklahoma, in 1908, and was founded on the concept of turning customer problems into solu- tions. It all began when W.H. Homer Mills recognized the need for a repair shop in Shawnee, which at the turn of the 20th century, was a railway crossroads with a growing industrial base. He opened his repair shop, and as he developed a reputation for his mechanical abilities (in solving problems) and his pride in customer service, the company grew. 1930s - 1940s: During the Oklahoma oil boom of the 1930s, Homer and his sons Oscar and David found an opportunity to serve the growing seismic and oil industries. The company grew by repairing drilling rigs and bits for these industries. This also allowed Mills to transform its repair service into a true manufacturing operation and begin soliciting larger contracts. In 1947, the company com- pleted the construction of its headquarters facility, which it still occupies. 1950s - 1960s: When the oil industry declined in the early 1950s, Mills recognized a growing need in the water well industry as regional farmers moved from dry land to irrigation farming. While helping farmers find a solution for irrigation problems, Mills was able to make a major shift into the water well industry. As part of this transition, the company began to manufacture a larger array of drill bits and increased its service offering in drilling rig and mud pump repair. 1970s - 1980s: After David Mills ac- quired the company in the early 1970s, Mills Machine soon achieved a new level of growth with larger corporate customers and contracts. The company also began to venture into international markets. By 1979, Chuck Mills joined the company and acquired ownership from his father in 1981. Throughout the 1980s, Mills achieved more growth, expanding into the directional drilling and blasthole mining markets both domestically and internationally. 1990s - 2000s: Under the leadership of Chuck Mills, the business became a multimillion dollar company. The Clean Water Act and the growing need for monitoring wells fueled significant growth in the environmental and soil sampling industry. The company also moved into the construction drilling and road boring sectors. New product development, including hollow stem, solid flight, and hex bore augers, the patented Mills Milclaw bit, along with the ongoing expansion of custom product sales in sev- eral international markets were important factors in the continued growth. 2000 - 2010: In 2008, Mills Machine celebrated its centennial anniversary. A downturn in the economy after the housing bust of 2009, caused the company to embrace lean manufacturing practices, aggressive product de- velopment, and marketing to survive. “The experience only made us better and more resilient,” stated Chuck. 2010 - 2020: Since early 2017, the company has endured difficult steel tariffs and once again risen to the challenge by keeping products competitive while continuing to offer new designs and solutions for drilling problems. Although the company’s primary focus is the water well and environmental industries, they are also targeting opportunities in the geothermal and construction industries. In addition to domestic sales, Mills Machine Company has exported products to over 75 foreign markets. After more than 110 years of experience in developing earth drilling tools and acces- sories, Mills Machine Company is still turning problems into solutions day by day. By listening to customers and responding to their needs with the right products at a competitive price, Mills Machine has established a rep- utation for service excellence and long-term business relationships. David, Homer, and Oscar in 1946. Homer proudly standing by his portable welder in 1935. David and Chuck Mills. WWDR photo of Chuck at the 2018 Groundwater Week event. C&G