John & Henry Pearce devise an adaptation of the cotton gin and start their own company in Cincinnati, manufacturing cotton machinery. The company is named John & Henry Pearce.
Henry Pearce comes over from England bringing his expertise in spinning and enabling the company to convert raw cotton into cloth. The company introduces its first braid product: Candlewicking
The Civil War halts all trade in the South. Henry's cotton expertise changes the direction of the company from the machine business to the processing of cotton at its factory on the corner of Eggleston Avenue and Fifth Street.
H.T. Atkins marries into the family and joins the company.
The company is renamed Atkins & Pearce Manufacturing Company.
Asa I. Atkins, a fifth generation family member, joins the company and leads it until 1980.
The company manufactures parachute cords and other cotton goods used in the War effort, increasing operations to 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
The company moves to a new 260,000 square foot facility in Covington with over 6,000 individual braiding machines and over 10,000 pieces of yarn processing and support equipment.
A&P Technology, a new R&D division of Atkins & Pearce is started. A&P Technology identifies the need for braided reinforcements within the composite industry and begins adapting current braiding machinery to best fit the composite manufacturers' needs.
A&P Technology becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Atkins & Pearce. A&P's goal: to develop and define braiding technology to be cost-effective.
Braid's success in the composite industry is overwhelming. A&P Technology gains independent ownership and becomes the world's leading producer of braided reinforcements for the composite industry. A&P Technology builds the world's largest braiding machine - an 800 carrier machine. A&P's extensive line of machinery provides customers with reinforcements that meet their needs exactly.
A&P Technology moves back to Cincinnati to a 77,000 square foot manufacturing facility. Its state-of-the-art facility gives A&P the ability to ship braid around the world cheaper than if customers made it in-house.
A&P Technology purchases a second facility giving A&P a total of 115,000 square feet and the ability to respond to the growing needs of existing customers. Braiding know-how enables breakthrough applications.
A&P Technology celebrates outstanding success within the composites industry, and 10 years of independence. A&P engineers continue to create industry partnerships. A&P designs the braid, allowing its customers to focus on their applications.
A&P continues to contribute to the advancements of the composite industry by remaining at the forefront of braiding technology.