With trust
comes
longevity
Kaemmerlen's longevity is rooted first and foremost in the strength of its customer relationships. Kaemmerlen would not be where it is today without the trust and partnership of its customers. Since its founding in 1924, the company has served customers through some of the most consequential economic, geopolitical, and technological shifts of the past century.
From the Great Depression and World War II to successive waves of digital transformation, Kaemmerlen has paired a deep commitment to its customers with a highly disciplined and forward-looking business operation. This has enabled it to anticipate change, pivot decisively, and continue delivering value as conditions evolved. The combination of customer-centricity and operational acumen has carried into the modern era, with the timely adoption of servicing and installing emerging technologies — from early computing to today's data center driven infrastructure — positioning Kaemmerlen to remain resilient, relevant, and closely aligned with its customers across generations.
1903Thibaut Casper (T.C.) Kaemmerlen was born in 1903 to Joseph Kaemmerlen, a railroad man, and his wife Angela. The family settled in De Soto, Missouri, where T.C. completed his high school education.
1919T.C. Kaemmerlen graduated from Rankin Technical College in St. Louis, Missouri.
1919 – 1923T.C. Kaemmerlen began his career working on the assembly line at the long-defunct Frank Adams Electric Company, a St. Louis-based electrical panels and circuit breakers manufacturer founded in 1891.
1924T.C. Kaemmerlen and his foreman, Gil Kramer, left Frank Adams Electric Company. Each invested modest personal savings to launch Kramer-Kaemmerlen Electric Company. The company's first office was located on the third floor of a building at Second and Chestnut Streets, now the site of the south leg of the Gateway Arch.
1927Kaemmerlen secured its first major contract with Gilster Milling Company for a grain elevator. The Company relocated to the second floor of 1611 Lafayette Avenue in the Lafayette Square Neighborhood.
1928Amid the economic upheaval of the Great Depression, Kaemmerlen endured through resourcefulness and determination.
1931The Company established a central office at 2318 Locust Street.
1937Kramer-Kaemmerlen Electric Company was dissolved. T.C. Kaemmerlen purchased Frank Kramer's shares and established a new firm, Kaemmerlen Electric.
1941America's entry into World War II accelerated the national economy, opening new opportunities for Kaemmerlen Electric and shaping its trajectory for years to come.
1946Kaemmerlen Electric Company was officially incorporated under Missouri law.
1947As Kaemmerlen Electric continued to grow, it relocated to 2728 Locust Street and expanded its new facility to 12,000 square feet. During this period, the Company also joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #1 as a closed-shop member, strengthening its commitment to craftsmanship and industry standards.
1950sAs American families embraced new appliances as markers of prosperity, demand for repairs surged. The Company rose to the occasion, becoming one of the nation's largest appliance repair shops, with more than 25 bench technicians servicing approximately 50,000 appliances annually.
1960sKaemmerlen experienced substantial growth from the late 1960s into the early 1970s driven by the rapid expansion of the commercial foodservice industry.
1970Kaemmerlen transitioned to its second generation as T.C. Kaemmerlen's two sons assumed key leadership roles. Robert Kaemmerlen leads contracting and Bruce Kaemmerlen leads Commercial Foodservice Repairs.
1974The Company phased out small household appliance repairs due to rising labor costs and declining replacement prices and redirected its focus to commercial food service equipment.
1980Kaemmerlen broadened its operations, entering the emerging markets of 'computer rooms' (later known as data centers) and healthcare, both of which became stable sources of business for the company.
1987On March 31st, the Company divided into two separate corporations, enabling T.C.'s sons to concentrate on their respective areas. Robert Kaemmerlen continued Kaemmerlen Electric.
1996Kaemmerlen Communications is established as a division of Kaemmerlen Electric, with the new division focusing on low-voltage systems service segment for voice, data, and video.
1997Kaemmerlen Electric constructed a 14,000 square-foot warehouse on Washington Avenue to accommodate purchasing, storage, tooling, and delivery operations.
2000Bob Kaemmerlen Jr., son of Robert, became President, and Brian Trembath, Robert's son-in-law, joined as CFO, completing the transition to third-generation family leadership.
2006Kaemmerlen Electric formally creates a service division.
2009The Company wins the ASA "Best MEP Subcontractor Award".
2010Kaemmerlen Communications expanded its focus to include access control systems, security systems, and surveillance cameras, responding to growing demand for business security solutions.
2011, 2014 & 2019The Company wins the ASA "Best MEP Subcontractor Award".
2022After the COVID-19 pandemic, business activity surged as companies adapted to the post-pandemic workplace and tackled postponed construction and technology projects. Kaemmerlen's communication division experienced substantial growth, with a notable increase in audio-visual systems, fueled by the rising demand for advanced teleconferencing solutions.
2023Kaemmerlen surpasses $40 million in annual sales, fueled in part by a surge in artificial intelligence driven data center and infrastructure projects.
2024Kaemmerlen commemorates its 100th anniversary with a celebration honoring a century of success.
2025The Company wins the American Subcontractors Association (ASA) "Best MEP Subcontractor Award".
2025Celebrated our best year ever with $50 million in annual sales, continuing a 100-year tradition of excellence.
