Architect John W. Hammes founded the company in Racine, Wisconsin, where it remains headquartered.

Hammes is credited with inventing the "in-sink" food waste disposal in 1927 for his wife.

It works by grinding and shredding solid food waste, using centrifugal force.

[3] The name is a play on the word "incinerator" and refers to the fact that the mouth of the disposal unit is located "in" the "sink".

It also redesigned the company logo and released a re-engineered line of high technology disposers branded as the Evolution Series.