About Us > History

Over 90 years of experience in
Cutting, Welding, and Positioning
Koike Aronson, Inc/Ransome’s history goes back to the early 1920s when Airco formed their cutting machine operations. Almost fifty years later, in 1969, Airco acquired Aronson Machine Company which was founded by Chuck Aronson in 1946; he invented and patented several of the positioners that are still used today. Once Airco and Aronson Machine Company were combined, both operations were set up in Arcade, New York as Airco. In 1985 Koike Sanso Kogyo of Tokyo, Japan, acquired the combined operation from Airco to add a world class welding positioner line to their world class cutting product line. The result was a single company that could supply the market with the best welding positioners and thermal cutting products in the world, also known as Koike Aronson, Inc.
In 2001, Koike Aronson, Inc. decided to acquire certain assets of the former Ransome Company in Houston, TX which was owned by Air Liquide America and known as one of Koike Aronson’s biggest competitors. The acquisition allowed us to provide the world with the most lasting, durable, safest and largest variety of positioning equipment ever. As of today, we now have Koike Aronson, Inc/Ransome, “The Most Complete Line in the Industry.”
Koike Aronson, Inc. is known worldwide for its CNC Plasma, Oxy-Fuel, Laser, Waterjet Cutting Machines, Welding Positioning Products, Portable Machines and Gas Apparatus.
Koike Aronson, Inc. is headquartered in Arcade, New York. Additional operations are located in Japan, South Korea, China and the Netherlands.
KAR TimeLine
| 1918 |
Koike founded in Tokyo Japan |
| 1920 |
Airco formed their cutting machine operation |
| 1934 |
Established first oxygen filling factory |
| 1937 |
Developed IK-12 series (original of IK-12MAX3, etc) |
| 1946 |
Established first oxygen manufacturing factory |
| 1946 |
Aronson Machine Company was founded by Chuck Aronson |
| 1962 |
Established first liquid oxygen manufacturing factory |
| 1962 |
Exhibited to A.W.S. Show in USA |
| 1969 |
Airco acquired Aronson Machine Company |
| 1970 |
Opened resident office in TX |
| 1974 |
Established Koike America in IL |
| 1981 |
The first oxygen-plasma system in the world was developed by Koike |
| 1982 |
Established Koike Europe in Netherland |
| 1983 |
Developed and started manufacturing Laser cutting machine |
| 1985 |
Established Koike Aronson by acquiring BOC's Aronson Division |
| 1989 |
Established Koike Korea Engineering in South Korea |
| 1998 |
Acquired ISO9001for Techno Center and Gunma Koike |
| 2001 |
Koike Aronson purchased former Ransome Company |
| 2002 |
Established Koike Engineering Tangshan in China |
| 2004 |
Acquired ISO9001for Ichikawa Seiki Factory |
| 2006 |
NC Plate Printing System received invention award from
The Japan Society of Naval Architects and Ocean Engineers |
| 2007 |
3D-Link Plasma Bevel Unit received invention award from
The Japan Welding Engineering Society
Koike Aronson, Inc./Ransome received ISO 9001:2000 Certification |
| 2008 |
Arcade, New York 20,000 sq ft facility expansion |
| 2008 |
Arcade, NY Demo Room Completed |
| 2009 |
Launched Five New Products- Koikejet Waterjet Cutting System, Plate-Pro Extreme, AGW-LW, LD-R Multi-Purpose Portable Bench Positioner, and 3D-LT Bevel Head. |
Koike Aronson, Inc. is dedicated to providing high quality Cutting and Positioning equipment at a fair price. All Koike Aronson’s Gantry-Style Cutting Machines, Waterjet Cutting Machines, and Positioning Equipment are built in the United States of America. Please call us at 800-252-5232 or Contact Us for any of your metal cutting, positioning equipment, and/or welding needs. Whether it’s a common or highly sophisticated Cutting/Positioning application, we have the knowledge and staff to accommodate your needs.
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