As Con-Tech looks toward the Labor Day holiday, we reflect on how this business started and all the hard labor and effort that went into to it to make it the success it is today. Con-Tech International, a New Orleans based global parts supplier, has been family owned and operated since 1983. Its roots, founding and operations today typify the evolution of an American family business and the family values that it embodies.
Company founder, the late Robert George Evans Jr. (“Robbie”), valued his country, his city, and his family. He had the entrepreneurial drive that made America, and he was proud to have created Con-Tech and developed its high standards of quality and service. Con-Tech routinely was featured in
the City Business Top Private Companies in New Orleans. True to his roots, Robbie stated in a 2015 interview, “New Orleans is our home and we prefer to bring in and ship products from New Orleans whenever possible.” Robbie’s family and employees are proud to carry on his company and his vision.
Robbie and his son and Con-Tech Executive Vice President Robert G. Evans III, have drums in their blood. They hail from a long line of drum makers here in New Orleans dating back to the early 20 th century. Robbie’s Great Uncle Charles Evans was president of Chickasaw Barrel Company in New Orleans, where Robbie’s grandfather started as a cooper. His grandfather then converted his backyard stables into his own cooperage, where he purchased and repaired secondhand wooden barrels collected by wagon.
Robbie’s dad worked there, at Chickasaw, and then formed Evans Cooperage Company. There Robbie, his twin brother and his sister learned about manufacturing, reconditioning and filling steel drums. From
the age of twelve, Robbie assumed various tasks at Evans, where he rose to the position of Vice President, eventually serving at Evans locations in Louisiana, Texas, and Missouri before foundingCon-Tech in 1983.
Thus it is not surprising that Con-Tech began selling industrial steel drum parts and related items, still avital component of the business today. This journey started with the first load of knock down drums he imported from Venezuela in 1984 to the steel coils Con-Tech imports today.