Four generations of Gundlachs have reminded us that inventors are "Chiefs". The first Gundlach patent was issued to Belleville resident P. M. Gundlach in 1857 for an improvement to the grain drill. Through numerous Belleville-based machine companies, the Gundlach family continues to manufacture all manner of cutting and crushing tools, which range in size from a few inches to the world's largest rockbuster.

The Beno J. Gundlach Co. manufactures smaller items, and the T. J. Gundlach Machine Company manufactures coal and rock crushing equipment capable of reducing products 4' square to 6" fragments at the rate of 1500 tons an hour.