1926
J. Kirby Risk and Otto Keiffer established the Keiffer-Risk Battery Company in an abandoned blacksmith shop on North Second Street in Lafayette, Indiana. Due to illness, Keiffer withdrew from the organization in the fall of 1926, and George M. Tweedie became the new partner. The Risk-Tweedie Service Company leased an adjoining building and added electric motor rewinding, electrical supplies and electrical contracting to their automotive electric and battery repair service.
1934
The Risk-Tweedie partnership was dissolved. The firm relocated in a larger building adjacent to the original buildings and became known as the Kirby Risk Electric Company. Electrical contracting and automotive electrical repair were discontinued, and the company concentrated its efforts in the wholesale distribution of electrical supplies and electrical motor sales and service.
1940
Kirby Risk Electrical Supply was awarded the Allen-Bradley line for the Lafayette location.
The Lafayette Milling Company building at Third and Ferry Streets was acquired and the company moved to that location in 1941.
1946
The electrical supply and electric motor sales and repair segments of the business were incorporated as two separate companies - Kirby Risk Supply Company, Inc. and Kirby Risk Electric Motors, Inc.
1957
The Lafayette Locker Plant building at First and Smith Streets was acquired and Kirby Risk Electric Motors moved to that location.
1972
The company's first location outside of Lafayette was established in Columbus, Indiana.
1975
To better serve the Montgomery County market area, a location opened in Crawfordsville, Indiana.
1981
March - A Kirby Risk Electrical Supply location was established in Danville, Illinois.
April - Kirby Risk Supply moved into its new corporate headquarters on Sagamore Parkway in Lafayette. In conjunction with the move, Kirby Risk Distribution and Service, Inc. merged with Kirby Risk Supply Company, Inc. The resulting company retained the name Kirby Risk Supply Company, Inc. Concurrent with the merger, the electric motor repair operation was named the Kirby Risk Servicenter and expanded its value-added services at First and Smith Streets in Lafayette, Indiana.
1984
Kirby Risk Supply enhanced its ability to serve southern Indiana by purchasing Hoosier Electric Supply, Inc., with locations in Bedford and Bloomington.
1985
In order to meet the increasing demand for products and services in southwest Indiana, the company opened a location in Terre Haute.
1987
April - Kirby Risk Supply expanded to eastern Indiana and western Ohio by purchasing Universal Electric Supply, Inc. with locations in Anderson, Kendallville, Marion, Muncie, New Castle, and Richmond, Indiana, and Lima, Ohio, and electric motor repair facilities in Muncie, Indiana.
June - The company opened its 15th electrical supply location in Kokomo, Indiana. August 1989 The company's 16th electrical supply location was established in Frankfort, Indiana.
1989
October - Kirby Risk Supply purchased Vincennes Electric Supply and relocated the business to new facilities.
1990
March - The company opened its 18th electrical supply location in Logansport, Indiana.
1991
February - Kirby Risk Supply opened its 19th electrical supply location in Indianapolis, Indiana.
1992
June - Kirby Risk Supply purchased ARCO Electric Products Corporation, located in Shelbyville, Indiana. ARCO manufactures phase converters, special purpose electric motors and power factor correction capacitors.
December - Kirby Risk Supply purchased Richmond Electric Company with two electrical supply locations: Richmond Electric Company in Richmond, Indiana, and Connersville Electric Supply in Connersville, Indiana. Richmond Electric Company's name was changed to Richmond Electric Supply, and on March 1, 1993, Connersville Electric Supply changed its name to Kirby Risk Supply Company.
1993
April - Kirby Risk Supply purchased Johnson Precision Machine, Inc., located in Lafayette, Indiana - producing custom parts to strict customer specifications. Processes performed include turning, milling, tapping, welding, flame and plasma cutting and grinding.
December - Kirby Risk Supply purchased Kulwin Electric Supply with locations in Bloomington, Indianapolis, and Muncie, Indiana.
1994
June - Kirby Risk Supply opened its 20th electrical supply location in Shelbyville, Indiana.
1995
March - The company name was changed from Kirby Risk Supply Company, Incorporated to Kirby Risk Corporation. The new name provided a structure under which our various operating companies function.
The operating companies include:
Kirby Risk Electrical Supply - Formerly Kirby Risk Supply Company.
Kirby Risk Electric Motor Repair - Formerly Kirby Risk Servicenter.
Kirby Risk Service Center - Manufacturing, assembly, and kitting.
Kulwin Electric Supply - Electrical supply distribution.
Richmond Electric Supply - Electrical supply distribution.
ARCO Electric Products Corporation – Manufactures phase converters, special purpose electric motors and power factor correction capacitors.
Johnson Precision Machining, Inc. – Machining, turning, milling, tapping, welding, flame and plasma cutting and grinding.
June - Johnson Precision Machine changed its name to Kirby Risk Precision Machining.
June 5 - Kirby Risk Corporation purchased Kiefer Electrical Supply Company with electrical supply locations in Peoria, Bloomington/Normal, Centralia, and Benton, Illinois.
September - The Benton and Centralia, Illinois, locations of Kiefer Electrical Supply names were changed to Kirby Risk Electrical Supply.
October - The Normal and Peoria, Illinois, locations of Kiefer Electrical Supply names were changed to Kirby Risk Electrical Supply. Kirby Risk Corporation purchased Travelectric Company located in Centralia, Illinois.
1996
January - Kirby Risk Electrical Supply opened an electrical supply location in Rensselaer, Indiana.
March - The Kirby Risk Electrical Supply location in Centralia, Illinois was merged into Travelectric. Travelectric Company changed its name to Kirby Risk Electrical Supply.
September - Kirby Risk Electrical Supply opened an electrical supply location in Macomb, Illinois.
1997
January - Kirby Risk Electrical Supply opened an electrical supply location in Effingham, Illinois.
April - Kirby Risk Electrical Supply opened an electrical supply location in South Bend, Indiana.
May - Kirby Risk Electrical Supply opened an electrical supply location in La Porte, Indiana.
February - Kulwin Electric Supply in Muncie merged with Kirby Risk Electrical Supply located in Muncie at 1619 S. Walnut.
1999
May - The name of Kulwin Electric Supply located in Bloomington, Indiana was changed to Kirby Risk Electrical Supply.
2001
June - Kirby Risk Electrical Supply at 1185 W. Second Street, Bloomington merged with Kirby Risk Electrical Supply at 1622 W. Third Street in Bloomington.
September - Richmond Electric merged with Kirby Risk Electrical Supply in Richmond, Indiana at 2200 Williamsburg Pike.
November - Kulwin Electric Supply on West 52nd Street in Indianapolis merged with Kirby Risk Electrical Supply. The 52nd Street location houses a satellite counter, the Central Warehouse and the Electrical Supply’s Automation Team offices.
2002
January - Kirby Risk Corporation purchased River City Electric Supply located in Evansville, Indiana and changed the name to Kirby Risk Electrical Supply.
February - The Kirby Risk Electrical Supply Indianapolis Distribution Center located on West 52nd Street became the major inventory location.
July - Kirby Risk Electrical Supply opened an electrical supply location in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
December - Kirby Risk Electrical Supply opened an electrical supply location in Decatur, Illinois.
2003
December - Kirby Risk Electrical Supply opened an electrical supply location in Champaign, Illinois.
2004
April - Kirby Risk Electrical Supply opened an electrical supply location in Springfield, Illinois.
2005
March - Kirby Risk Electrical Supply in Benton, Illinois merged with the Mt Vernon location.
November - Kirby Risk Electrical Supply opened an electrical supply location in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
2006
November - Kirby Risk Electric Motor Repair (EMR), Preventive Maintenance Services and Power Transmission consolidated to form a new business unit called Mechanical Solutions & Service. (MSS)
December - Kirby Risk Electrical Supply opened an electrical supply location in Greensburg, Indiana.
2007
November - Kirby Risk Electrical Supply opened an electrical supply location in Fishers, Indiana.
2013
October - Kirby Risk Manufacturing opened a new Service Center location in Griffin, Georgia.
2016
Kirby Risk Electrical Supply opened the Commodity Center located in Indianapolis, Indiana.
2017
August - Kirby Risk Electrical Supply opened an electrical supply location in Portage, Indiana.