118 patents
for over a century.1893 Kleinschmidt founded
And while platforms, markets, and standards have evolved over the last 100 years, we haven't wavered in our mission:Building essential connections
to integrate the world through technology.Custom for all
Ingenuity Forever
We’ve seen a lot and solved for a lot, building our own systems and solutions. That experience gives us the confidence, craft, and know-how to tackle even the most complex integration problems with ease.
We know every company’s integration needs are unique, so we believe every solution should be built just for you. And as technology evolves and your business grows, we support and update your systems to keep vital business information flowing effortlessly, now and into the future.
Our support isn’t start and stop. It’s constant. We’re your partners and part of your team. We’ve got your back anytime you need us, day or night, 365 days a year. Because we’re not just here to help your business. We’re here to help you.
Our Leadership
Our namesake and founder, Edward Kleinschmidt, invented the teletypewriter, an automatic fishing reel, a macaroni-twisting machine, and 115 other things in his lifetime. The bar is high for our leadership, but they’re up to every challenge.
A legacy of invention and adaptation
Edward Kleinschmidt was a lifelong inventor and one of the fathers of the telecommunications industry. Throughout his career, he continually innovated and improved communication technologies. And throughout its history, Kleinschmidt Inc. has continuously evolved, always seeking new ways to help organizations communicate and connect.
At age 22, Edward Kleinschmidt opens an experimental shop with a sign over the door reading “Inventions Developed.” It’s both a personal workshop and a technical consultancy where he helps customers develop new products.
The Kleinschmidt Electric Company is founded to engineer the beginnings of what would become the teletypewriter/teleprinter, which enables telegraph operators to type and receive messages directly on typewriter terminals instead of sending and translating Morse code. Edward applies to patent the type-bar page printer, laying the groundwork for future technologies.
The Morkrum Company and Kleinschmidt Electric Company both file patents for start-stop synchronizing methods for code telegraph systems. Instead of wasting time in patent disputes, Sterling Morton, Charles Krum and Edward Kleinschmidt decide to merge the two companies to form the Morkrum-Kleinschmidt company in 1924 (becoming the TeleType Corporation in 1928) and continue to improve the machine together.
In 1928, Kleinschmidt Electric Company becomes The Teletype Corporation, which is purchased by AT&T for $30,000,000 in 1930.
Kleinschmidt immediately turns around and sets up Kleinschmidt Laboratories to continue his work, and is commissioned by the U.S. Army Signal Corps during WWII to develop the fastest data printer possible.
The Kleinschmidt 100 wpm typebar page printer becomes the standard for the U.S. Military. To meet an order for 2,000 printers Kleinschmidt purchases of 13 acres in Deerfield Illinois and sets up a manufacturing facility. Kleinschmidt, Inc. still proudly occupies the same land today.
Kleinschmidt Laboratories Inc. merges with Smith Corona, which then merges with the Marchant Calculating Machine Company, and forms SCM.
The Kleinschmidt division of SCM pivots from the teletypewriter business to start providing network services for EDI and CLM.
Hanson Trust acquires SCM, but Harry S. Gaples, the Kleinschmidt division president, purchases the division from Hanson Trust and Kleinschmidt Inc. is independent again.
1994: Illinois High Tech Entrepreneur of the Year Award
1997: EDI Pioneer Award
2004: Edward A. Guilbert E‑Commerce Professional Award
2005: US Customs and Border Protection Award in the area of transportation, cargo control and supply chain security
Kleinschmidt continues to find inventive ways to help businesses connect and communicate, one custom, cloud-based data solution at a time.
Positions
Careers
We build essential connections worldwide, but we’re proudly grounded in Deerfield, Illinois. Because we’re employee owned and we put people first, the majority of our employees have been with our company for over 15 years.
Think you’d make a good fit? Reach out with your resume.