Lincoln Electric Holdings: The Welding Expert

The Harvard Business School has created eight case studies of the business model of Lincoln Electric Holdings. Several business schools around the world have also featured several case studies of the company. The company is a global manufacturer and marketer of welding products. It is a component of the Fortune 1000 companies and is listed part of the Russell 3000 Index.

The business is headquartered in Euclid, Ohio and through their network of sales offices and distributors, they are able to reach more than 160 countries. Their product portfolio includes welding consumables, arc welding equipment, robotic welding systems and plasma and oxy-fuel cutting equipment. These products are manufactured from their 42 manufacturing facilities across Asia, Europe, Middle East and in North and Latin America. In addition, they also have manufacturing alliances in 19 countries.

Lincoln Electric’s history started in 1895 and for more than a century now, the company has greatly contributed to the operations in various industries through its product offerings. It has strong affiliation with companies that thrive in the industries of automotive, transportation, fabrication, maintenance and repair; energy sectors, shipbuilding and the oil and gas industries. From the $200 capital investment in the works of founder John C. Lincoln, a company that generates more than $2.6 billion in annualized revenue is born.

Of the 11,500 associates the business employed, 3,000 are based in the United States. 50% of the company’s revenue are coming from their operations in North America. In America, the company has made several milestones, which include the largest wind turbine installed in Ohio and one of the largest in North America which stands at 443 feet. Its growth is mainly attributed to the company’s aggressive approach in acquiring similar businesses. Today, the company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ. It uses the ticker symbol LECO.