Sheffer Corporation — Est. 1952
More Than 75 Years of Engineering Excellence
From a family-founded machine shop in Reading, Ohio to a trusted partner on the Space Shuttle, the Joint Strike Fighter, and the next generation of American aerospace — Sheffer has never stopped building what others can’t.
Who We Are
Sheffer Corporation is an American manufacturer of hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders with a record that speaks for itself: over seven decades of firsts, a customer list that spans commercial manufacturing to deep-space launch systems, and a culture of engineering rigor that has never wavered. We are not a volume commodity supplier. We are precision specialists — the company engineers call when the application is too demanding, too critical, or too complex for an off-the-shelf solution.
That reputation was earned one innovation at a time, starting in 1952 when brothers Don and Harvey Sheffer founded Sheffer Engineering in Reading, Ohio. What began as a small shop built on mechanical ingenuity has grown into a multi-facility manufacturing operation with a direct-to-market sales model, in-house robotic welding, five-axis CNC machining, and a product line trusted by companies including Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, and Blue Origin.
Founded on Grit, Built on Precision
The Sheffer story is fundamentally American. Two brothers, a shared belief in manufacturing excellence, and the discipline to formalize it — Sheffer became incorporated in 1956, just four years after its founding, signaling from the outset that this was a company built to last. When the Ralph J. Stolle Company acquired Sheffer in 1961, it didn’t slow the momentum — it accelerated it. That family commitment to the company has endured across generations: Ralph Stolle’s grandson, Jeff Norris, has served as Chief Executive Officer since 1997, bringing continuity of vision and ownership-level accountability to every decision made at Sheffer.
By 1967, Sheffer had outgrown its roots. A newly constructed 40,000 square-foot facility in Blue Ash, Ohio gave the company the manufacturing footprint to match its ambitions. A year later, a licensee agreement in Europe extended Sheffer’s reach across the Atlantic — proof that even in its early years, the company was thinking beyond regional markets.
A Decade-by-Decade Record of Firsts
Innovation at Sheffer has never been a marketing position — it is the operational reality of a company that has consistently solved problems no one else had solved yet. The late 1960s and 1970s were transformational years that established Sheffer’s technical identity and industry standing.
Nuclear Cylinder Market Entry
Sheffer entered the nuclear cylinder market — one of the most demanding, specification-intensive sectors in all of industrial manufacturing. The standards required for nuclear applications set the baseline for quality across the entire product line.
First Position Feedback on a Cylinder
Sheffer became the first manufacturer in the industry to install position feedback on a cylinder — a breakthrough that introduced a new level of control precision and laid the groundwork for modern smart actuation systems.
Slipper Piston Seal Development
Sheffer developed the current slipper piston seal design — an engineering refinement that significantly improved product reliability, seal life, and performance across operating conditions. It remains a hallmark of Sheffer cylinder durability.
HH Series Redesign
The HH series was redesigned from the ground up for enhanced longevity and serviceability — extending product life in the field and reducing total cost of ownership for customers in high-cycle applications.
Why it matters: When a manufacturer is first to a technology — position feedback, captive cushions, advanced configurators — it signals more than engineering talent. It signals a culture that invests in solving problems that haven’t been solved yet. That culture is still active at Sheffer today.
75 Years of Milestones
From a family-founded engineering shop in Reading, Ohio to a trusted partner on the Space Shuttle and the next generation of aerospace — every milestone below is a step in a story still being written.
Built to Scale, Disciplined to Focus
Throughout the 1980s, Sheffer grew aggressively — and strategically. An additional 30,000 square feet was added to the Cincinnati facility in 1980 to meet rising demand. In 1981, a new 45,000 square-foot Atlanta facility expanded Sheffer’s southern manufacturing footprint and created the dual-facility structure that supports the company’s production capacity today.
In 1986, Sheffer entered the mobile cylinder market, further expanding its product offerings and manufacturing capabilities.
Cincinnati, Ohio — HQ & Manufacturing
The original Ohio facility, expanded to over 70,000 square feet, houses engineering, manufacturing, and the company’s direct-to-market sales operations.
Atlanta, Georgia — Manufacturing
The 45,000 sq ft Atlanta facility, now equipped with automatic robotic welding implemented in 2024, delivers expanded capacity with advanced automation.
Direct-to-Market Sales
Established in 2013, Sheffer’s direct sales model eliminates distributor layers — putting customers in direct contact with engineers who know the product inside and out.
E-Commerce Platform
Launched in 2021, Sheffer’s e-commerce channel brings the ordering experience into the modern era — with the engineering depth customers expect behind every transaction.
Technology That Changes the Standard
Sheffer’s modern era has been defined by a series of technology investments and market partnerships that few cylinder manufacturers can match. In 1998, Sheffer introduced an industry-exclusive advanced configurator — giving customers the ability to spec a custom cylinder with precision and speed that set the benchmark for digital product configuration in the industry. That same year, the acquisition of Reddick Cylinder Company added depth to the product line and engineering talent to the team.
In 2002, Sheffer acquired its first 5-axis CNC machinery, unlocking complex geometries and tighter tolerances that elevated the precision of every cylinder that came after. In 2013, Sheffer introduced industry-exclusive captive cushions — a proprietary advancement that improved performance and reliability for demanding applications.
In 2000, Sheffer cylinders powered the Space Shuttle Crawler — the massive transporter system that moved the Space Shuttle from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad. There is no more demanding proof of product capability than that.
Modern Manufacturing Milestones
Sheffer’s investment in technology has accelerated into the present decade. In 2021, Sheffer formally entered the aerospace ground support market, supplying cylinders for operations supporting SpaceX and Blue Origin — two of the most demanding and fast-moving customers in any industry. In 2024, the Atlanta facility implemented automatic robotic welding, combining speed, repeatability, and quality in a way that manual processes cannot match at scale.
Industry-Exclusive Captive Cushions
Introduced in 2013, Sheffer’s captive cushion design is a proprietary advancement that delivers smoother deceleration and extended cylinder life in high-cycle environments.
5-Axis CNC Precision
Since 2002, Sheffer has operated 5-axis CNC machinery — enabling complex, tight-tolerance components that cannot be produced on conventional equipment.
Robotic Welding
Automated robotic welding at the Atlanta facility ensures consistent weld quality at scale — reducing variability and increasing throughput without compromising standards.
Advanced Online Configurator
The industry’s first advanced digital configurator, introduced in 1998, gives engineers a fast, accurate path from application requirement to finished cylinder spec.
Quality Is Not a Program — It’s the Culture
In 1999, Sheffer established the Gold Program — a formal commitment to quality and customer satisfaction that codified what had always been true of the company’s operating philosophy. The Gold Program set internal standards for responsiveness, product performance, and engineering support that continue to define the customer experience today.
In 2018, President Donald J. Trump visited Sheffer Corporation — a recognition of the company’s role as a model of American manufacturing excellence. It was a moment that reflected what Sheffer’s customers have known for decades: this is a company that builds things right, employs skilled American workers, and contributes meaningfully to the industrial fabric of the country.
The Sheffer Standard: Every cylinder that leaves a Sheffer facility carries the weight of 75+ years of engineering discipline. We do not cut corners on materials, tolerances, or testing — because our customers’ applications don’t allow for it, and neither do we.