Culture

A Great Place to Work and Live

LECO has been part of Southwest Michigan since 1936, when Carl Schultz and his business partners established what was then known as Laboratory Equipment Company in St. Joseph. Our first products were rapid sulfur and carbon determinators for the American iron and steel industry, but we quickly began developing many more products to meet the needs of a wide variety of industries. Today, LECO is recognized globally as a leader in innovative analytical instrumentation, mass spectrometers, metallography and optical equipment, and consumables.

Throughout this phenomenal growth, LECO has maintained roots in St. Joseph and expanded its world headquarters here to include over 700 employees—people such as engineers at our research and development buildings, customer training experts at our Global Support Center, and applications chemists in our laboratories. LECO is one of the area’s largest employers, and we recruit and hire talented team members not only from Southwest Michigan, but also from around the world.

Why Choose LECO and Southwest Michigan?
When you talk to LECO employees, you’ll discover how much they enjoy being part of the company. In fact, LECO employees are so satisfied that the average length of service here is about 15 years! Our generous benefits package includes paid holidays and vacation days, medical/dental/life insurance, flexible spending accounts, and comprehensive retirement savings plans.

But just as important is the unique LECO culture. As a company owned by the same family for three generations, LECO provides a family-friendly environment. For the past 30 years, LECO has treated 2,000 employees and family members to an annual picnic similar to a county fair, complete with food, rides, games, and prizes. In addition, each December, LECO’s senior leadership team personally gives all employees turkeys for their holiday dinners. At the end of each year, employees are recognized in company-wide ceremonies for their years of service and awarded special gifts. 


Our employees can’t say enough good things about working at LECO and living in Southwest Michigan. To meet a few of the team members who relocated to join LECO, click here.  

Employment