Olek Belts Company History

  Company History:

  Our company was founded in the 1920's by Antoni Olek, a silk weaver from Poland. He used money borrowed from his wealthy band leader brother-in-law, who was known as the "Polka King" in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area of Pennsylvania. In the 1930's, struggling through tough economic times, the company began weaving speaker cloth, (known as grille cloth) for radios made by Philco and RCA (located nearby) and other manufacturers. World War II interrupted the demand for consumer products, but the company resumed production when the war ended, not only for radios, but also for a new product that changed everything - the television. The company grew and expanded in the late 1940's & 1950's and acquired a chenille yarn and rug manufacturer, and also the flat belting making operation of a large U.S. rubber company, which continues to this day.

  In the 1960's and 1970's the company focused on expanding its line of products for the commercial, institutional, and hospitality laundry industry beyond just belts. Dozens of new products were added to facilitate laundry flatwork processing.

  Since 1987the company has been headed by J. Anthony Olek Jr., the 3rd generation C.E.O. Mr Olek is a 1966 graduate of Lafayette College, Easton, PA with a Bachelor's Degree in Economics. He served as an infantry platoon leader in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star with "V" device for heroism in ground combat during the TET offensive in February 1968. Upon his return to the states, Mr. Olek continued his education at the Temple University Graduate School of Business in addition to working with his father at the company.

  Today the company provides its products to hundreds of customers across the country with the largest inventory of domestic and imported beltings and auxiliary products.