Freeman Schwabe®, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, has a rich history in die cutting, evolving over 90 years-and still going strong.

Strength and growth among various industry standard changes, economic challenges, and change of ownership, the Schwabe brand has stood the test of time. Herman Schwabe, an American pioneer in the manufacture of die cutting machinery, began his career in 1935 as an enterprising young man in the footwear service field. Realizing the need for high-speed, efficient, and accurate die cutting machinery, he founded Herman Schwabe Inc. in a small loft in New York City. The firm had grown to be one of the largest die cutting machine manufacturers in the world.

As Herman Schwabe grew, it needed a larger manufacturing plant, so the decision was made to move the manufacturing plant to Hazelton, Pennsylvania while keeping the office which was now located in Brooklyn, New York. Herman Schwabe’s sales agent for the Midwest was the Louis G. Freeman Company located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Herman Schwabe and Louis G. Freeman were long-time personal friends as well as business colleagues and that relationship continued with Herman’s two sons, Jerry and Ronny Schwabe and Louis G. Freeman III until 2001.

In 2001, Herman Schwabe Inc. was purchased by the Louis G. Freeman Company and moved its assets, several key employees, intellectual property and manufacturing to Cincinnati, Ohio. Jerry Schwabe remained part of the Louis G. Freeman Company until his retirement in 2006. The Louis G. Freeman company, now known as Freeman Company, also manufactured thin gage thermoform tooling primarily for the food and beverage industry which had little in common with the manufacture of die cutting presses. Greg DeFisher was CEO of the Freeman Company and saw the benefit of focusing on the manufacturing of die cutting presses and formed Freeman Schwabe® Machinery as Owner/CEO in August 2006.

Almost 20 years later – led in 2025 by Greg DeFisher and made up of a highly technical sales, engineering, and manufacturing team, all Schwabe presses are manufactured in the USA. Industries served include automotive, flooring, gaskets, packaging, and most recently – medical – Freeman Schwabe® has designed and engineered a servo hydraulic press that is ideal for manufacturers who die cut medical non-metallic parts.

Freeman Schwabe® manufacturers die cutting presses suitable for operation in clean room™ environments to provide precision die cutting solutions while minimizing risk of contamination. Our die cutting presses for clean room™ environments cut against steel or have specialized non-contamination cutting belts, enhancing die cutting for medical applications. Our die cutting presses for medical clean room™ environments are suitable for die cutting several materials including adhesives, films, foam, hydrocolloids, hydrogels, woven and non-wovens.

Stop by our Booth #662 at MD&M West to discuss how we can enhance your manufacturing & die cutting process!