our story

Heritage Steel is a family-owned cookware manufacturer in Clarksville, TN. Our cookware is the culmination of over 40 years experience crafting specialty multiclad stainless steel cookware in the USA, and is made with only the highest quality materials and superior craftsmanship. In addition to our cookware, we also offer Hammer Stahl Cutlery and Kitchen products. Our mission is to equip home cooks with quality tools at an affordable price, empowering a lifetime great cooking.

donald henn

Donald Henn first started selling cookware over 50 years ago, right out of college. He has worked to bring quality stainless steel cookware to families around the country, helping ensure that people can cook healthy, delicious meals at home.

In 1983, he purchased a cookware factory in Clarksville, TN and from that New Era, Inc. was born, producing a number lines of multi-clad stainless steel cookware.

john martelli

John Martelli has worked with Donald since he started New Era by purchasing the factory. He has been working in cookware manufacturing for over 50 years, and has managed the facility for over 15 years.

John is known for his attention to detail and dedication to quality, making sure that everything that leaves our facility meets his standards.

a quick history

Heritage Steel is what it is today due to the partnership between Donald Henn and John Martelli over the years.

1960-70s
the traveling salesman

Donald Henn was a top independent distributor for the Vollrath Company out of Wisconsin, selling directly to families looking for high quality cookware.

1983
new era cookware

He then acquired the consumer division of Vollrath Cookware and their factory in Clarksville, TN, forming New Era Cookware.

1980s-2000s
a history of innovation

Always pursuing the latest technologies, New Era was among the first to introduce induction cookware, and was a pioneer in multiclad cookware.

2008
hammer stahl cutlery

Hammer Stahl cutlery is introduced and is sold primarily through live events such as food festivals.

2013
hammer stahl cookware

Now known as Heritage Steel cookware, New Era develops its most advanced version of its stainless steel cookware, including an innovative handle design and state-of-the-art stainless steel.

Hammer Stahl begins to be sold online and to local, independent retailers around the country.

2017
titanium strengthened steel

All cookware manufactured is converted to a 316Ti interior steel, making its cooking surface the most durable and non-reactive on the market.

2019
heritage steel

New Era and Hammer Stahl consolidate under the Heritage Steel brand, celebrating the company's heritage of quality goods manufactured in the USA.

the team that makes it work

We're proud of the team we have at our factory in Clarksville. Their hard work and experience makes all that we do possible.

the heritage steel family

Family-owned since the beginning, we're a small team dedicated to our mission of bringing great stainless steel kitchenware to cooks everywhere.

thank you for supporting an american small business!

It can be challenging to be a small-scale, quality-obsessed manufacturer in today's world. Your support makes it all possible.

So a heartfelt thank you from me

-Danny Henn, Donald's Grandson