Freeman Schwabe Machinery® – Manufacturing Excellence for 90 Years
Posted on: January 24, 2025
A History of Excellence in Die Cutting Machine Manufacturing
Freeman Schwabe®, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, has a rich history in die cutting machine manufacturing, evolving over 90 years-and still going strong. Strength and growth among various industry standard changes, economic challenges, and change of ownership, the Freeman Schwabe® brand has stood the test of time.
Herman Schwabe, an American pioneer in the manufacturing of die cutting machinery, began his career in 1935 as an enterprising young man in the footwear service field. Realizing the need for high-speed, efficient, and accurate die cutting machinery, he founded Herman Schwabe Inc. in a small loft in New York City.
The firm had grown to be one of the largest die cutting machine manufacturers in the world. As Herman Schwabe grew, it needed a larger manufacturing plant, so the decision was made to move the manufacturing plant to Hazelton, Pennsylvania while keeping the office which was now located in Brooklyn, New York.
Herman Schwabe’s sales agent for the Midwest was the Louis G. Freeman Company located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Herman Schwabe and Louis G. Freeman were long-time personal friends as well as business colleagues and that relationship continued with Herman’s two sons, Jerry and Ronny Schwabe and Louis G. Freeman III until 2001.
In 2001, Herman Schwabe Inc. was purchased by the Louis G. Freeman Company and moved its’ assets, several key employees, intellectual property and manufacturing to Cincinnati, Ohio. Jerry Schwabe remained part of the Louis G. Freeman Company until his retirement in 2006.
The Louis G. Freeman company, now known as Freeman Company, also manufactured thin gage thermoform tooling primarily for the food and beverage industry which had little in common with the manufacture of die cutting presses. Greg DeFisher was CEO of the Freeman Company and saw the benefit of focusing on the manufacturing of industrial die cutting presses and formed Freeman Schwabe® Machinery as Owner/CEO in August 2006.
Almost 20 years later – led in 2025 by Greg DeFisher and made up of a highly technical sales, engineering, and manufacturing team, all Freeman Schwabe® die cutting presses are manufactured in the USA. Industries served include automotive, flooring, gaskets, packaging, and most recently – medical – Freeman Schwabe® has designed and engineered a servo electric die cutting press (Model SEP) that is ideal for manufacturers who die cut medical non-metallic parts.
Electric Die Cutting Machines for Medical Manufacturing & Clean Room™ Environments
Freeman Schwabe® manufacturers die cutting, clicker and molding presses suitable for operation in medical manufacturing and clean room™ environments to provide precision die cutting solutions while minimizing risk of contamination. Our die cutting presses for clean room™ environments cut against steel or have specialized non-contamination cutting belts, enhancing die cutting for medical applications. Our die cutting presses for medical clean room™ environments are suitable for die cutting several materials including adhesives, films, foam, hydrocolloids, hydrogels, woven and non-wovens.
Get a Quote on In-Stock & Ready to Ship Servo Electric Die Cutting Presses
The Freeman Schwabe® Model SEP is a four-post servo electric press featuring servo-driven precision for Kiss-Cutting as well as Through-Cutting.
Visit Freeman Schwabe® at MD&M West 2025
Want to learn more about Freeman Schwabe® industrial die cutting solutions for medical manufacturing and clean room™ environments? Stop by our Booth #662 at MD&M West from February 4th – 6th to discuss how we can enhance your manufacturing & die cutting process!
Can’t make it to MD&M West 2025? Learn more about the types of Freeman Schwabe® die cutting presses available, browse our in-stock and ready to ship die cutting press inventory or get started with a quote on your next die cutting or clicker press machine today.