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John Nicholas Heltzel
Founder, Heltzel Steel Form & Iron Co., 1882 - 1952

In 1909, John pioneered the first practical steel form system for building concrete roads which led the way to revolutionary changes in paving methods and labor saving machinery. Popularly called the "Heltzel Hanging System", his invention became the first of 101 patents he would receive during his working life. Through 1969, when slip-forming began to take hold in the road paving industry, his genius and leadership thrived as his company, the Heltzel Steel Form & Iron Co., became the premier manufacturer of road forms and road paving machines. Among his many accomplishments, he pioneered new technologies in concrete road paving machines that have helped the industry reduce construction costs and extend road life. He also developed the first practical mobile batch plant which has remained essentially unchanged.

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