To Increase Vertical Integration, IFH Group Names New President

The custom fabricator of hydraulic oil reservoirs and fuel tanks is investigating the feasibility of offering plastic tanks to its customers along with its existing steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and aluminized steel products.

The IFH (Innovative Fluid Handling) Group (Rock Falls, IL), a leading manufacturer of custom fabricated hydraulic oil reservoirs, fuel tanks, lubrication storage and handling systems and other weldments and assemblies, has named Keith Ellefsen as president of the company.

Ellefsen takes over the presidential duties from James King Jr., who retains his position as the chief executive officer. Before being named president, Ellefsen served as the vice president of operations and chief operating officer since 2006. He joined The IFH Group  as a research manager in 1999, when it was then known as the Sauk Valley Equipment Company, then moved to plant manager.

“As president I will continue to grow the company,” he said, “making sure we have the right people and resources to do the job right for our customers.” This includes offering new product lines as well as increasing the company’s vertical integration. According to Ellefsen, the company is investigating the feasibility of offering plastic tanks to its customers along with its existing steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and aluminized steel products. The IFH Group recently acquired Williams Powder Coating (Phophetstown, IL) and created a new division – Powder Coaters, LLC – and is looking into acquiring full machine shop capabilities as well. “The more vertically integrated we are, the more efficient we can be,” Ellefsen commented. “We want our customers to look at us as a resource, not just a supplier.”

Ellefsen earned a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Southwestern College (Winfield, KS). He is a member of the American Welding Society (AWS; Miami, FL) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME; Dearborn, MI).

The IFH Group designs and manufactures custom hydraulic oil reservoirs and fuel tanks for mobile on and off-road equipment as well as fluid storage and dispensing systems for oil and lube rooms and mobile lubrication carts. It was established in 1945 as King’s Weld Shop of Rock Falls, and was incorporated in 1966 as J. L. King Co., Inc.  The company took on fabrication work and began to expand its business considerably, becoming the leading provider of custom tanks, weldments and assemblies that it is today. tanks@ifhgroup.com, www.ifhgroup.com