Core Focus
Make things better every day by providing solutions for welding and gas applications.
Core Values
People Oriented – Honest, Respectful, Fair, Trustworthy, Believers in the “Golden Rule”
Solutions Focused – Knowledgeable, Technical, Innovative, Creative, Problem Solvers
Driven – Hardworking, Dedicated, Great Work Ethic, The Best at What We Do
Passionate – Winners, Proud, Positive “Can Do” Attitude, Professional Appearance, Love What We Do
Why We Are Unique
Expertise and hands-on knowledge of our people
Hands-on customer relationships—support and service
Complete creative solutions
History
CK Supply, a St. Louis-based company, opened for business on Nov. 3, 1948, as a distributor for National Cylinder Gas Company, a manufacturer of gases and welding equipment. CK Supply was founded by Ralph Chase and Ralph Knight. They derived the name of CK Supply by using the “C” from Chase and the “K” from Knight. On Aug. 22, 1951, Chase and Knight sold the assets of the company to Homer Fudge. At that time, Paul Dunn was a service technician with National Cylinder Gas Company and CK Supply was one of his customers. In April of 1955, Paul Dunn became the sales manager for CK Supply.
On Dec. 6, 1955, Dunn purchased all of the stock of CK Supply from Homer Fudge. When Dunn purchased the company, there were three employees: Paul Dunn, one truck driver, and one bookkeeper. Also at that time, CK Supply operated with one truck and utilized a building with space between 3,000-5,000 square feet. The growth of the company exceeded the space available. In 1957, CK Supply moved to new facilities on Folsom Avenue. CK Supply experienced continued growth for the next 24 years. Sales grew from $100,000 per year and three employees to $2.6 million and 18 employees. Paul Dunn retired in March of 1979, and his son, Tom Dunn, took over as president of the company. Expansion plans for a new 20,000-square-foot office/warehouse began and in 1985 CK Supply moved into its new facility across the street. For the next 16 years, CK Supply expanded by adding three more branch locations to the west of St. Louis and two locations in Illinois to better serve their customers.
In November of 1997, CK Supply had an opportunity to move its headquarters two miles west to a 120,000-square-foot building on six acres. The new headquarters on Manchester Road, between I-44 & Highway 40, enables CK Supply to better serve customers by having everything under one roof. CK Supply currently services within a 100-mile radius of the St. Louis metropolitan area.
In 2014, CK Supply expanded into dry ice manufacturing to better serve the Missouri market with a local source. CK Supply has recently expanded its foot print adding locations in Joplin and Kansas City, MO. Tom Dunn remains CEO and second generation owner and Ned Lane has been operating president for the past 15 years.
Partner Associations
