In 1920, Bob Sinton founded Artisan Industries in England, beginning his journey as an apprentice to a glass blower before transitioning to copper smithing. His skills as a mechanic were exceptional, earning him the role of overseeing all the piping on the Mauretania, a prominent ocean liner built for the British Cunard Line. Bob even sailed on its maiden voyage to America. During the housing boom of the 1920s, he focused on crafting copper hot water tanks.
The stock market crash of 1929 hit Artisan hard. Despite the lack of business for months, Bob’s determination kept the company afloat. At that time, Artisan operated out of an old brewery stable, with simple, homemade tools and no modern amenities like welding machines, electric hoists, or central heating.
In July 1934, Jim Donovan and Ralph Jope joined Bob, marking the beginning of the “New” Artisan with an initial investment of $2,000 from Donovan’s savings. They set up an office in Boston and established their first shop in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Jim and Ralph first met in 1924 at MIT, where they became friends and colleagues. Initially, they produced a few copper hot water tanks but soon shifted their focus to the industrial market. They worked tirelessly, often through nights and weekends, for just $20 a week. Their first major success came with the production of tinned copper tanks for whiskey blending after Prohibition ended. One notable order, completed in just three sleepless days, brought in a memorable $1,000.
Artisan’s first year saw $10,000 in business, despite a $1,000 loss. They continued to grow, making copper piping for Bird & Son and repairing stills for Leo Monty at Sanford Mills. Referrals from Barnstead Still, Braman Dow, and Whitehead Metal Products significantly boosted their business. A recommendation from Whitehead to Commercial Filters generated substantial work, leading to more opportunities.
Before the U.S. entered World War II, Artisan received an order to modify a process that was contaminating streams, leading to more projects and several workers becoming group leaders. By the time the war ended, Artisan had expanded its capabilities, acquired more tools, and started fabricating their own products.
With the war over and the economy booming, Artisan invested all their earnings into expanding their capabilities and relocating to larger facilities. Recognizing the need for more space, they consolidated operations in Waltham in 1946, purchasing Metal Clad Doors and later acquiring a property in East Boston and leasing a building on Bacon Street in Waltham.
In 1952, Ken Berrian founded Jet-Vac Corporation, which merged with Artisan in 1986. In 1964, Metal Fabricators Corporation also merged into Artisan, becoming the Metal Fab division. The following year, Artisan trademarked the ROTOTHERM®, a horizontal, mechanically aided thin film processor designed for challenging evaporation and reaction applications. They also received a patent for their Evaporator/Stripper and Fractionator, enhancing their capabilities in removing volatile materials from non-volatile fluids.
Throughout the 1960s to the 1990s, Artisan added and acquired more buildings to support its steady growth in manufacturing. In 1996, they purchased additional land and erected the Castle Street building, which included a dedicated customer performance testing area.
In 2001, Artisan was granted a patent for the Protherm™, a horizontal, mechanically aided evaporator system designed for rapid concentration of heat-sensitive, foaming, or toxic materials at a small scale. By 2014, Artisan had moved to a new 120,000 sq.ft. facility in Stoughton, south of Logan International Airport, consolidating engineering, manufacturing, and pilot plant testing under one roof.
In 2018, Artisan received a Certificate of Authorization from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) for manufacturing pressure vessels in accordance with ASME’s Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code. The following year, they were granted a patent for a method to remove FFAs and toxins from edible oils using their Short Path Stripper, enhancing the efficiency of oil purification without high temperatures and product loss.
In 2021, Artisan, in collaboration with SciPhy Systems, introduced the ARTISAN X-D200, a thin-film distillation system for solvent recovery in the cannabinoid processing industry. In 2023, they announced the acquisition of Unique Systems, a leading manufacturer of ejector vacuum system components and assemblies, condensers, deaerating feedwater heaters, scrub coolers, and grease extractors. That same year, new leadership at Artisan emphasized expanding the process technologies business unit, strengthening customer relationships, and promoting sustainable process solutions.
Our journey from a small workshop with homemade tools to a thriving industrial business is a testament to the resilience and ingenuity that define Artisan Industries. Today, we continue to innovate and grow, dedicated to providing advanced solutions for our clients’ most challenging needs. Read more about our History and Timeline.