Our History
We didn’t become fluid application experts overnight. Founded in 1957, Unist has over 65 years experience creating innovative solutions. We began by developing Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) systems for machining operations, helping eliminate the need for flood coolant while saving on fluid usage and extending tool life.
In the early 1990s, we recognized the lack of environmentally responsible methods for applying lubricants to coil stock materials used in stamping and roll forming. That’s when we introduced our first line of metal forming fluid application products, designed to virtually eliminate waste and mess from traditional stock lubrication techniques.
Rooted in the tradition of American industrial manufacturing, our journey didn’t stop there. Over the last decades, we’ve made significant advancements in aerospace fluid delivery, contributed to cutting-edge robotics automation, and even played a role in projects that launch people into outer space.
In 1957, the company Uni-Mist® was founded with the introduction of its namesake product—a low-pressure spray coolant system. This innovation eliminated the need for flood coolant in machining operations, using evaporative cooling to improve cutting tool performance. It also reduced coolant usage and lowered the costs of cleaning, treating, and disposing of it, providing significant benefits to manufacturers.
In 1968, Uni-Mist®, Inc. enters current family ownership, purchased by Wally Boelkins, a mechanical engineer, who began as the company’s sole employee. From the late 1960s to the mid-1980s, Wally and his team developed new products, opening the door to true minimum quantity lubrication. Their Uni-Max® product line used positive displacement pumps to deliver cutting fluid more efficiently and accurately than ever.
The need for high-performance, environmentally-friendly MQL lubricants led to the development of Coolube®, which proved to be effective in nearly all machining operations. Today, multiple formulations of Coolube® are offered for use with a variety of applications and materials.
In the early 1990s, metal stampers faced stricter environmental regulations on fluid usage and disposal. Seeing the lack of environmentally-friendly lubrication methods for coil stock, Chuck Boelkins, Wally's son, invented the Uni-Roller®. This applicator used internally-fed rollers to evenly lubricate both sides of coil stock. It quickly became a success, reducing lubricant costs for manufacturers and minimizing the need for fluid disposal.
As our product line and markets expanded beyond spray systems, we changed the company’s name from Uni-Mist®, Inc. to Unist, Inc. in 1996. The name symbolizes our unified efforts to improve the application of lubricants in all manufacturing and assembly processes throughout the world.
In 2008, Wally’s son, Chuck, purchased the company from his father. Chuck has been involved with company since 1993 and was behind the development of the entire line of products used in the metal forming industry. His knowledge and passion continue to drive Unist to new levels of innovation and build on the legacy his father began.
Still led by Chuck, Unist has grown significantly from Wally’s original 9x12-foot office to a 40,000-square-foot production facility. Continuing the family tradition, Chuck's son, Alex Boelkins, now leads Unist's sales and marketing efforts. With more than 50 products introduced to the market and a presence in over 80 countries, we are a proud American manufacturer. As we look to the future, Unist remains committed to innovation, expanding our reach, and continuing to grow alongside the industries we serve.
