125 Years of Lyon: A Legacy of Innovation in Steel Storage Solutions
A Century and a Quarter of Building Up, Not Out
1901–2026: From a single workshop to a national leader in industrial storage
This year marks a remarkable milestone: Lyon celebrates 125 years of American manufacturing excellence. Since our founding in 1901, Lyon has stood as a pillar of innovation in steel storage solutions—designing, engineering, and manufacturing the cabinets, lockers, and shelving systems that organize warehouses, equip schools, secure hospitals, and power industries across the nation.
For more than a century, our mission has remained constant: create durable, reliable storage solutions that help our customers maximize space, improve efficiency, and build operations that last. The world has changed dramatically since 1901, but Lyon’s commitment to quality, innovation, and American craftsmanship has never wavered.
The Foundation: 1901 and the Birth of an American Manufacturer
Lyon was born at the dawn of the 20th century, a period of explosive industrial growth in the United States. Factories were expanding. Manufacturing was modernizing. The need for organized, efficient storage solutions was becoming critical as businesses scaled operations and managed increasingly complex inventory.
From the very beginning, Lyon focused on steel which was the material that offered unmatched durability, strength, and longevity compared to the wood and makeshift storage systems common at the time. Our founders understood that industrial environments demanded products that could withstand decades of heavy use, and steel was the answer.
That early commitment to durability set the standard that defines Lyon to this day. A Lyon product isn’t built for short-term convenience. It’s built to serve reliably for generations.
Innovation Through the Decades: Leading Change in Storage Technology
The Rise of Modular Design
As American industry evolved through the mid-20th century, so did Lyon’s product line. We pioneered modular storage solutions that allowed facilities to configure, expand, and reconfigure systems as their needs changed. Our modular drawer cabinets became an industry standard, offering customizable compartmentalization for small parts storage that transformed how manufacturers, maintenance departments, and tool cribs organized critical components.
The principle was simple but revolutionary: storage systems should adapt to the work, not the other way around. This philosophy drove decades of product development and remains central to Lyon’s engineering approach today.
Vertical Storage Solutions
By the latter half of the 20th century, real estate costs were rising and facility footprints were becoming more expensive. Lyon responded with a focus on vertical storage optimization. Multi-level shelving systems that allow warehouses and distribution centers to store more inventory in the same square footage.
We didn’t just sell taller shelving units. We engineered complete vertical storage ecosystems: two-level shelving with integrated catwalks, mezzanine-supported cabinet systems, and heavy-duty industrial shelving designed to maximize every cubic foot of available space. The mantra became “build up, not out”. This cost-effective strategy remains as relevant today as it was decades ago.
The Mobile Shelving Revolution
In recent years, Lyon has introduced advanced mobile shelving systems that represent the next evolution in space optimization. These high-density storage solutions use movable shelving banks mounted on track systems, allowing facilities to eliminate fixed aisles and reclaim up to 50% of their storage footprint.
Mobile shelving delivers the ultimate expression of Lyon’s core principle: more storage capacity without increasing the facility size. Whether in healthcare records storage, library archives, warehouse parts management, or office filing systems, mobile shelving allows organizations to do more with the space they already have.
Core Products That Built a Legacy
Steel Cabinets: Secure, Durable, Configurable
Lyon’s steel storage cabinets have equipped American facilities for over a century. From all-welded heavy-duty cabinets that protect valuable tools and materials to modular drawer systems with hundreds of customizable compartments, Lyon cabinets are engineered for environments where failure is not an option.
Our cabinet line includes industrial storage cabinets, office storage solutions, bin cabinets, ventilated cabinets, and specialized configurations for weapons storage and sensitive equipment. Every design reflects decades of field experience and continuous improvement based on real-world customer feedback.
Metal Lockers: From Schools to Stadiums
Lyon metal lockers are an American institution. Generations of students, athletes, workers, and professionals have relied on Lyon lockers to secure personal belongings in schools, gyms, workplaces, and public facilities nationwide.
Our locker offerings span employee lockers, athletic and gear lockers, ventilated designs for damp environments, corridor lockers for narrow spaces, and specialty configurations including antimicrobial finishes for healthcare environments. Every locker is built from heavy-gauge steel, precision-manufactured to ensure decades of reliable service even in the most demanding conditions.
Industrial Shelving: The Backbone of American Warehousing
Lyon’s industrial shelving systems form the organizational backbone of warehouses, stockrooms, and distribution centers across the country. Our flagship 8000 Series and 2000 Series shelving lines are engineered for heavy loads, tool-free shelf adjustment, and infinite expandability.
From single starter units to sprawling multi-aisle installations, Lyon shelving scales to meet the demands of operations large and small. Open and closed configurations, rivet rack systems, bulk storage racks, and bin shelving provide solutions for virtually any inventory profile. And with our recent introduction of mobile shelving systems, Lyon continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in high-density storage.
Discover Lyon Industrial Shelving
Building Up, Not Out: Lyon’s Philosophy for the Future
The physical footprint of a warehouse, school, or manufacturing facility represents a fixed cost. Expanding that footprint, through new construction, leasing additional space, or relocating to a larger building, is expensive, disruptive, and often unnecessary if existing space is used more efficiently.
Lyon’s “don’t move when you can improve” philosophy addresses this challenge directly:
Multi-Level Shelving Systems allow facilities to install mezzanine-supported shelving that effectively doubles usable storage capacity within the same floor area.
Modular Cabinet Mezzanines stack modular drawer cabinets vertically with structural support platforms, creating two-story small parts storage that drastically increases inventory density.
Mobile Shelving Systems eliminate static aisles by using movable shelving banks, reclaiming otherwise wasted space and delivering storage density increases of 50% or more.
Vertical Optimization Accessories including overhead cabinets, tall shelving units, and multi-tier locker configurations ensure every vertical inch is productively used.
This approach isn’t just about fitting more into less space. It’s about reducing real estate costs, improving workflow efficiency, and building systems that scale without requiring facility expansion.
125 Years Forward: What’s Next for Lyon
As we celebrate 125 years of innovation, we’re not looking backward, we’re engineering forward! The future of storage is evolving rapidly, driven by automation, sustainability priorities, space constraints, and the constant demand for greater efficiency.
Lyon is investing in:
Advanced Mobile Storage Technologies that integrate seamlessly with modern warehouse management systems.
Sustainable Manufacturing Practices including powder coat finishes with lower environmental impact and designs optimized for material efficiency.
Customization and Rapid Configuration Tools that allow customers to design and order precisely tailored storage solutions faster than ever.
Enhanced Safety Features including improved anchoring systems, ergonomic designs, and antimicrobial surface technologies for hygiene-critical environments.
The storage challenges of 2026 are different from those of 1901, but Lyon’s approach remains the same: listen to our customers, understand their real-world challenges, and engineer durable steel solutions that solve problems for decades to come.
Thank You for 125 Years
Lyon’s 125-year milestone isn’t just our achievement, it’s a reflection of the trust our customers have placed in us across generations. Schools that installed Lyon lockers in the 1950s still use them today. Warehouses that built their first Lyon shelving runs in the 1970s have expanded them repeatedly as their operations grew. Manufacturers who depend on Lyon modular cabinets know those systems will outlast the products they store.
That kind of longevity isn’t built through marketing. It’s earned through quality, reliability, and a refusal to compromise on the fundamentals that make a Lyon product a Lyon product.
To every customer, partner, and team member who has been part of Lyon’s story over the past 125 years: thank you. Here’s to the next century of building up, not out.
