MKS Company History

Missouri-Kansas Supply Co., Inc. was formed as much out of the need to fill a void as it was entrepreneurial foresight. E.R. Hendricks incorporated the company in November 1946 in the state of Missouri. His main business venture at the time was that of a plumbing contractor who became increasingly challenged by the inability to procure piping products as a result of WWII.

His new venture began by extracting two of the top sales executives (one plumbing and one industrial) from a well known distribution giant in the Kansas City market. With an Employee base of 8, a single facility of 27,000 square feet that was once a branch of another quite large Kansas City based supply firm, the journey began.

In those days distribution supply houses were fairly generic and regarded as “Full Line Houses” that inventoried both plumbing and PVF materials (Pipe, Valves and Fittings). The plumbing lines included such lines as Eljer, Chicago Faucet, Delta, Tyler and many other ancillary lines. Industrial products were such lines as Walworth, Grinnell, Bonney Forge, Weldbend, Capitol and additional lines. The business continued and prospered through 1958 when Mr. Hendricks decided to retire and sell the Enterprise to a group of employees as has been the case as each new generation progresses. As the business continued to grow, additional personnel were hired for sales and warehouse functions and as a part of an eventual succession plan.

In 1974 the decision was made to forgo the plumbing trade and concentrate solely on Industrial PVF trade. The company soon became distributors for such powerful brands as Hills McCanna, Sarco, Mueller, Hackney, and a host of others.

In 1996 a new ownership group took the reins. It was at this time that a very aggressive sales strategy was developed and enhanced with alliance partnerships in Affiliated Distributors, ASA/IPD. We also added additional key supplier partnerships such as Apollo/Conbraco, Hayward, Ipex, O.C. Keckley, Watson McDaniel, WIKA, EIM, Outokumpu, Crane, and Weldbend.

In addition to key suppliers Missouri-Kansas Supply Co., Inc. underwent additional transformation with a total reorganization of the business. Department heads were identified and empowered with clear cut expectations and goals. Outside organizational consulting was engaged for the first time in the history of the business, and a new path of prosperity was embarked upon.

In 2007 an effort to re-brand the name and increase the footprint of the company was undertaken. The ownership of Missouri-Kansas Supply Co., Inc. changed its operating name to MKS Pipe & Valve Co. This has proven to be a correct path to future growth.

That brings us to present day where leadership, growth and honesty define our core operating values and mission.

Today MKS Pipe & Valve Co. continues to operate from the original location plus three additional buildings totaling 65,000 square feet and three pipe yards.

As with any distributor, it is the support and confidence of our loyal customers, capable and willing employees, and strong a bond that is developed and nurtured with vendor/partners that are ultimately the keys to success. Planning and technical training sessions with supplier/partners as well as regular employee meetings are emphasized and encouraged.

We have seen markets ebb and flow and this will undoubtedly never change. All economies fluctuate given time and the constant transformation of the free market. It is ultimately how the differing challenges are handled that separate the successful from the temporal.

The key with any organization is to be ever mindful of core competencies and to be connected not only with your customers but your core leadership and employees as well.

While our name has changed our spirit has not. We wish to thank our loyal customers for your past business and encourage our present and future loyal customers to inform us of any suggestions that would be helpful in continuing the tradition and resolve of MKS Pipe & Valve Co. to be…

“The Strongest link in the Supply Chain”