About Us
Since 1946, Porter Warner Industries (PWI) has been dedicated to serving the foundry and surface preparation industries. PWI is a distributor of the industry’s finest manufacturers, with 9 warehouse locations from South Carolina to California to better serve you.
Our Company History
Joseph Warner
1844-1924
Porter Warner Sr.
1871-1962
Porter Warner Jr.
1903-1997
1890 – Joseph Warner organized the Tennessee Slate Corporation and sent his son Porter Warner to run the operation
1918 – Porter Warner opened a number of bauxite mines in Adairsville, GA
1922 – Porter Warner started a naturally bonded sand plant in Camden, TN
1941 – Porter Warner Jr. joined the company and expanded the scope of the company by adding the distribution of foundry and industrial products
1946 – Porter Warner Industries was incorporated
1958 – Opened an office and warehouse in Chattanooga, TN
1963 – Doug Warner joins the company
1971 – Opened an office and warehouse in Birmingham, AL
1973 – Built an office and warehouse in Chattanooga, TN
1975- Opened an office and warehouse in Ft. Worth, TX
1977 – Opened an office and warehouse in Houston, TX
1983 – Purchased an office and warehouse in Birmingham to replace the leased facility
1984 – Opened an office and warehouse in Rock Hill, SC
1989 – Built our corporate office and expanded our warehouse in Chattanooga
1991 – Opened offices and warehouses in Tempe, AZ and Oakland, CA
1991 – Built an office and warehouse in Richburg, SC to replace the Rock Hill, SC facility
1992 – Opened the El Paso warehouse
1993 – Purchased an office and warehouse in Arlington, TX to replace the Ft. Worth facility
1993 – Started an operation in Los Angeles, CA
1993 – Purchased a warehouse in Phoenix, AZ to replace the facility in Tempe, AZ
1995 – Opened the Tulsa, OK warehouse
2002 – Purchased an office and warehouse in Rancho Dominguez, CA to replace the facility in Los Angeles, CA
2003 – Built a new office addition to the existing Birmingham, AL warehouse