100+ YEARS AND GROWING STRONG

PETER McILROY, AN IMMIgrant from Scotland, founded Robroy Industries in 1905 under the name of Enameled Metals Co. "It's one of those All-American stories," says Robroy Industries' CEO Peter Mcllroy. "My grandfather got fired from his job at a steel mill, got someone to loan him some money and started a little manufacturing operation. We're still operating a manufacturing business today and doing very well."

Peter McIlroy senior had founded his business on the basis of providing an enclosure

In its first year of business, Enameled Metals moved only $35,000 in sales and absorbed a loss of $16,000, but the company turned a $14,000 profit the following year on more than six-times the sales volume and launched itself on an upward trajectory that has led to its current state of enviable finances. In 2005, Robroy achieved $91.7 million in sales that translated to over $20 million in profits. The company, which is based in Verona, Pa., has no debt and is sitting on $12 million in cash, an amount that is expected to grow this year.