A Brief History

The Hybco line of tool and cutter grinding equipment is now being marketed and manufactured by Leland-Gifford, Inc. (Akron, Ohio). The 65-year-old line was acquired from Hybco International Inc. on March 1, 2002. The Hybco line is primarily two-way form relieving equipment, tool and cutter grinders, tap grinders, and chamfer and flute heads.

Hybco International, Inc. is a 63-year-old manufacturer of tool and cutter grinding equipment and related products. Hybco specializes in manufacturing radial and axial relieving equipment, fixtures, manual and CNC universal grinders and CNC form relief grinders. The equipment is designed specifically for the manufacturing or re-sharpening of drills, reamers, taps, step tools, end mills and other face cutting tools. In addition, Hybco has an expert re-manufacturing department where skilled craftsmen rebuild Hybco equipment to perform to its original capabilities.

Henry P. Boggis founded the company in 1937. Mr. Boggis worked as a salesman for Bath Tap Company and his customers needed a way to sharpen their taps. As a result Mr. Boggis developed and manufactured several types of tap-sharpening machines. Great quantities of these tap grinders were sold and many of these machines are still in use today.

In 1959 Mr. Donald M. Pattison, a well-respected individual in the machine tool industry, purchased Hybco from Mr. Boggis. Mr. Pattison was a senior executive with such companies as Warner-Swasey and Motch & Merryweather. Mr. Pattison was primarily responsible for developing and manufacturing manual controlled tool and cutter grinders that produces and re-sharpens step drills. In addition, Mr. Pattison was the catalyst that developed the two-way relieving fixture. At that time Hybco became dedicated to form relief grinding and for over forty years and has produced thousands of form relief grinding fixtures.

In 1960 D. Melvin Pattison joined Hybco and succeeded to ownership in 1976. Under Melvin Pattison's leadership the company has enjoyed an excellent reputation in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Hybco continued to manufacture manual controlled tool and cutter grinders, refining and improving on the equipment and processes. Under Melvin Pattison"s leadership Hybco designed and built a two and three axis CNC universal grinder and a four axis CNC "Build-A-Tool" form relief grinder.

Hybco remains dedicated to form relief grinding and continues to manufacture one of the truly last American all cast iron tool and cutter grinder. Hybco operates out of a modern one-story 13,800 square foot building located in Mentor, Ohio, just east of Cleveland.