Thomas M. Barnhardt's vision of a future for his family shaped the future of a company. A pioneer in spirit, Tom Barnhardt established a company dedicated to quality, customer, country, and family. His foresight of things to come allowed the company he founded to build on the successes of other industries in a newly industrialized nation. These initial successes led the company in various directions, branching into different, yet related industries. Even though Barnhardt operates in various industries, the roots are the same. Established in 1900, Barnhardt Manufacturing Company began operation by producing layered batting made from unbleached cotton fibers. This padding laid the groundwork for two distinctively different corporate divisions - Barnhardt Manufacturing Company and North Carolina Foam Industries.
