Hein Electric Supply Company

Southeast Wisconsin's Largest Independent Electrical Distributor

The History of Hein Electric Supply

1946: Irv Hein began Hein Electric Supply Company in Downtown Milwaukee on 6th & Wells, in a building where he shared space with a furniture upholsterer.

1946: Sid Kohlenberg joined Hein Electric in the spring of 1946 and later incorporated the company.

1947: Irv Hein sold the company to Sid Kohlenberg.

1951: Hein Electric moved to a new location on 6th & State in Downtown Milwaukee where we shared space with the Kuryer Polski, a local Milwaukee newspaper published from 1888 to 1961.

1969: In order to serve its customers more effectively, Hein Electric moved to the building on 5th & Cherry. The Downtown Milwaukee Service Center still operates out of this location today. This building has an underground tunnel that leads to the old Jacob Obermann Brewery & Jung Brewery across the street!

1971: The second generation of the company began when Ron Kohlenberg, son of Sid Kohlenberg, joined Hein Electric Supply as an outside salesperson.

1983: The first Hein Electric Supply service center was opened in Menomonee Falls.

1984: Hein Electric Supply Waukesha opened on September 14th.

1985: Hein Electric Supply opened its third service center in Oak Creek. .

1987: We opened our fourth service center in Grafton.

1989: We opened Hein Electric Supply Pewaukee.

1990: In January of 1990, Ron Kohlenberg became President of Hein Electric Supply, and Sid Kohlenberg became Chairman of the Board. The West Bend service center opened on August 14th.

2000: After much success, Hein Electric Supply moved its Corporate Headquarters from Downtown Milwaukee to Brookfield.

2005: Hein Electric Supply opened its 9th service center in Oconomowoc.

2006: Hein Electric Supply celebrates its 60th anniversary in the electrical industry.

2011: Hein Electric Supply celebrates 65 years as Southeast Wisconsin's largest locally owned electrical distributor.