110 Years of Industrial Strength Solutions in the Intermountain West

In 1916, when mining crews needed conveyor belts or packing materials in the Intermountain West, downtime wasn't just inconvenient, it was expensive. One supplier shortage could halt an entire operation. That's the year Rudolph "Rudy" Orlob opened Mountain States Rubber Company in Salt Lake City, built on a simple promise: be there when customers need you, with what they need, every time.

110 years later, that promise still drives Industrial Supply Company. The industries have evolved. The products have advanced. But the fundamental need for a reliable partner who understands demanding environments? That hasnt changed.

From Mining Essentials to Multi-Industry Solutions
Industrial Supplys origin story isnt about grand vision. It's about practical need. Rudy Orlob saw mining operations struggling with inconsistent access to critical components, conveyor belts, industrial tires, packing materials. In an era when supply chains moved at the speed of rail, local reliability mattered.

His solution was straightforward: stock what customers needed, understand how they used it, and be consistent. As Utah's economy expanded beyond mining in the 1920s, the business evolved into Industrial Supply Company, a name that reflected its growing commitment to construction, fabrication, and emerging industrial sectors.

The mid-20th century brought diversification. Steel making, utilities, foundries, manufacturing. Each sector had unique demands, but common ground existed: they all needed partners who understood operational pressures and could deliver without excuses.

Industrial Supply built its reputation one solved problem at a time. Not through flashy marketing, but through showing up, knowing the work, and anticipating what customers would need next.

The Family-Owned Difference
Here's what 110 years of family ownership actually means in practice. During the 2008 recession, while competitors consolidated or disappeared, Industrial Supply maintained inventory levels and kept teams intact. Why? Because family ownership meant decisions weren't driven by quarterly earnings pressure. They were driven by knowing customers would need support when markets rebounded.

When new technology emerged, from industrial vending systems to digital inventory management, the company could invest with a 10-year horizon, not a 10-quarter one. Long-term thinking isn't just philosophy. It';s how you stay relevant across three different centuries.

More Than Products: Becoming Operational Partners
Somewhere around the 1990s, a pattern became clear: customers didn't just need products. They needed help managing them efficiently. Industrial Supply responded with integrated supply programs that consolidated vendors and simplified procurement. Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) that kept materials on-hand without tying up customer capital. Industrial vending systems providing 24/7 access with built-in usage tracking. Safety program support that went beyond equipment to training and compliance guidance.

Each service emerged directly from customer conversations.
"We're spending too much time managing inventory."
"Our safety training needs updating."
"We need better visibility into supply costs."

We listened. Then we built solutions.

Safety: More Than Equipment
Here's a truth every industrial operation knows: the best safety program isn't the one with the most PPE options. It's the one people actually follow.
Industrial Supply's approach to safety has always recognized this. Yes, we work with top manufacturers that are trusted by our customers. But we also help end users assess
actual workplace hazards, not just check compliance boxes. We train teams on proper equipment use. We help navigate evolving OSHA requirements. We help build safety cultures where protection becomes second nature.

A century of serving high-risk industries like mining, construction, and oil & gas has taught us that safety is earned through consistent attention, not purchased through catalog orders.

Why Relationships Last Decades
Many of our customer partnerships are older than the people managing them. Second-generation owners working with second-generation Industrial Supply teams. Construction companies we've supplied since the 1960s. Mining operations that have trusted us through multiple ownership changes.

What makes relationships last decades?
Not contracts. Not pricing alone. It's the accumulated weight of thousands of kept promises. Delivering the right parts when a line goes down at 2 AM. Knowing a customer's operation well enough to catch potential issues before they happen. Being honest when we can't help, and finding someone who can. Showing up the same way in good markets and tough ones.

Trust compounds. After 110 years, we've had time to let it build.

What the Future Looks Like We won't pretend to know what Industrial Supply Company will look like in 2136. But we know this: the industries that build, extract, manufacture, and power the Intermountain West and beyond will always need partners who understand their work. Supply chains will grow more complex. Technology will advance. Regulations will tighten. New challenges will emerge that we can't predict today. But the fundamentals won't change: reliability, expertise, problem-solving support, andrelationships built to last.

That's what carried Industrial Supply from 1916 to 2026. And that's what we're buildingon as we move forward.

This Milestone Belongs to You
110 years doesn't happen because a company decides to stick around. It happens because customers, manufacturing partners, and employees choose to build something
together. If you've worked with Industrial Supply for decades, thank you for trusting us with your operation. If you're exploring a new partnership, we're ready to earn that same trust.

Ready to talk about your operation's needs?
Connect with your local Industrial Supply team