COE Press Equipment Celebrates 50 Years of Showing Up
Family-owned coil processing equipment manufacturer marks 50 years in business and will celebrate the milestone at FABTECH 2026
COE Press Equipment is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2026, marking five decades since John Coe founded the company in his parents' garage in 1976.
The anniversary is being recognized under the theme "50 Years of Showing Up," reflecting a philosophy that has guided the company from its earliest days: represent equipment honestly, stand behind commitments and take responsibility when problems occur.
Before founding COE, John worked for another feed line equipment manufacturer. His experiences there helped shape the principles on which he would build his own company, including a commitment to treating customers fairly and meeting the expectations established during the sales and engineering process.
That philosophy has influenced decisions throughout COE's history.
In one early example, COE discovered that a reel mandrel failure resulted from welding material that was incompatible with the mandrel's base metal. Rather than addressing only the failed unit, John initiated an effort to identify every reel containing a mandrel manufactured using the same welding process.
COE contacted all the affected customers and replaced the mandrels.
The effort came at a considerable cost to the company, but reflected a standard that continues to guide COE today: when a broader problem is identified, the responsibility does not end with the first customer who experiences it.
Five Decades of Supporting Manufacturers
Over the past 50 years, COE has grown from a garage-based operation into a manufacturer of coil processing equipment and complete systems serving manufacturers throughout North America and beyond.
During that time, the materials, production requirements and technologies used by manufacturers have continued to change. COE has evolved alongside them, developing equipment and service capabilities while continuing to support systems already operating in the field.
The "50 Years of Showing Up" theme recognizes that history of continued support, as well as the employees who have helped build and sustain the company across generations.
COE remains family-owned, with founder John Coe continuing to serve as CEO. As the next generation of the Coe family assumes greater leadership within the organization, the company continues to emphasize the responsibility its decisions carry for customers, employees and the families who depend on the business.
Celebrating 50 Years at FABTECH 2026
COE will commemorate its 50th anniversary during FABTECH 2026 in Las Vegas.
A special 50th anniversary reception will be held Thursday, October 22, the second day of the show. FABTECH attendees are invited to join COE in celebrating the milestone and meet John Coe, members of the Coe family and COE employees with more than 30 years of service.
The reception will recognize the people, customers and relationships that have contributed to the company's first five decades while looking ahead to its next generation.
COE Press Equipment: 50 Years of Showing Up.