Behrens Manufacturing
Behrens Manufacturing is an American manufacturer of galvanized steel containers and metalware based in Winona, Minnesota. Founded in 1911, the company produces a range of steel cans, pails, buckets, tubs, watering cans and other metal products for home, garden, farm and industrial use. Behrens describes itself as the number-one steel container manufacturer in America.
History
Henry Behrens, born in Germany, emigrated to the United States in 1867 and settled in Winona, a port city on the Mississippi River. He worked as a carpenter and contractor and had a son, Henry J. Behrens. Henry Behrens founded the metalware company in 1911, originally producing containers to serve local dairy farms. The company grew on Winona's east side, manufacturing galvanized steel products using traditional metalworking techniques.
Products
Behrens manufactures a line of steel containers including garbage cans, locking lid cans, pails, tubs, ovals and other specialty products. Its product categories span lawn and garden, cleaning and organizing, pet care, fireplace accessories and automotive applications. All products are made from galvanized steel and are promoted as 100% recyclable.
In 2019, the company introduced a new product line called "Home Industrials" featuring mugs, trays, tubs for entertaining, pet dishes, metal bird feeders and compost pails, alongside its traditional "Metalware Classics" line of galvanized tubs, cans and pails. The company also developed a patented "Infinity Lid" design for its cans and partnered with the nonprofit Metal Packaging Europe to use the organization's "Metal Recycles Forever" mark, becoming one of only a few U.S. manufacturers permitted to do so.
Ownership
In December 2013, Gladstone Investment Corporation invested $12.9 million in a combination of debt and equity to acquire Behrens, with its affiliate Gladstone Capital Corporation providing an additional $5.5 million. The acquisition was made in partnership with Behrens' existing management team. At the time of the investment, Gladstone described Behrens as "the top supplier of steel cans, pails, tubs and watering cans in North America."
Mill City Capital, a Minneapolis-based private equity firm, subsequently acquired Behrens from Gladstone. Under Mill City's ownership, Ron Hornbaker was hired as president and CEO in 2018. Hornbaker, formerly of Rockler Companies, brought in a new leadership team including Dana Busch as vice president of sales. At that time, Behrens employed about 135 people in Winona.
Facility expansion
In 2025, Behrens completed a warehouse expansion at its Winona facility, a project handled by Borton Construction.