On January 28, we marked 50 years of motor manufacturing in Sioux Center. For over five decades, this facility has supported our production and helped serve our customers and employees along the way. While our equipment and motor designs have evolved over the years, our focus on manufacturing reliable fractional horsepower motors has remained the same.
Here’s a look at how Groschopp came to Sioux Center and the milestones along the way.
Our Roots
Our roots trace back to 1927, when John and Gerhard Albers built a 6-volt wind charger in a farm workshop near Cherokee, Iowa to power a rural family’s radio battery.
That early innovation eventually grew into Wincharger Corporation, which was established in Sioux City in 1934. During World War II, the company produced Dyna Motors for military aircraft and ships and later expanded into manufacturing motors, generators, and inverters.
Establishing Operations in Sioux Center
In 1968, Dyna-Technology purchased the Wincharger division. As demand for small motors continued to grow, operations began relocating to Sioux Center in 1975. By 1976, motor manufacturing had fully moved into our current facility on the north side of town.
The move provided additional space for production and marked the beginning of long-term motor manufacturing in Sioux Center.
Growth, Expansion, and Change
In 1980, EMW Groschopp, Inc. was established after Groschopp & Co., GmbH (a German motor manufacturer) acquired the small motor division as part of its expansion into the U.S. market. As the business grew, we expanded the Sioux Center facility in 1985 to support increased production.
By the mid-1990s, operations in Sioux Center became independently owned but continued under the Groschopp name. Around that same time, we earned ISO 9001 certification, implementing a structured quality management process.
Since then, our facility, equipment, and manufacturing processes have continued to evolve.
Groschopp Today and Looking Ahead
Today, around 200 employees build motors at our Sioux Center facility. Fifty years here reflects decades of steady work and the people behind it. The facility remains central to our operations and continues to support motor manufacturing for customers across a wide range of applications.
