Leading the Mechanical Industry Since 1934

Born in 1885, James Michel Harder was indentured as a plumbing trade apprentice. Making $1.25 per day when he started in 1903, he advanced to journeyman in 1906, then superintendent in 1922, and ultimately a stockholder and officer in charge of estimating and operations in 1929.

In 1934, he stepped out on his own to be sole owner and founder of J.M. Harder Plumbing.

As the post-WWII era brought continued economic growth to Oregon, thanks in large part to the timber industry, residential construction was similarly on the rise. ​

Under the guidance of the second generation, J.M. Harder Plumbing moved their headquarters from Astoria to Portland and completed plumbing projects for new construction homes that are still around today.​

After 31 years in business, the company was incorporated and changed their name to Harder Mechanical Contractors, Inc.

The ensuing time period brought a shift from residential plumbing into the large industrial projects–dams, paper mills, and steel plants–that remain a cornerstone of the company’s work to this day.

With its close proximity to Mount St. Helens, Spirit Lake felt the full force of the 1980 volcanic eruption. The blast and debris from the avalanche displaced much of the lake from its lake bed, blocking the outlet and forcing waters up into the mountain slope.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built an outlet tunnel to maintain safe lake levels and prevent flooding of the communities downstream. Harder Mechanical designed and built floating pump skids as part of this effort, leading the way in early prefabrication techniques.

Advancements made in silicon wafer technology ignited a boom in the personal computer market. Many companies found themselves investing in expanded research and production facilities in Oregon, creating the “Silicon Forest” as a counterpart to California’s Silicon Valley.

Harder Mechanical embraced the semiconductor market, translating its skill in industrial process piping to the high purity process piping systems and clean room environments required for chip manufacturing.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built an outlet tunnel to maintain safe lake levels and prevent flooding of the communities downstream. Harder Mechanical designed and built floating pump skids as part of this effort, leading the way in early prefabrication techniques.

The company’s success in the semiconductor industry created a new opportunity for growth when a client asked Harder Mechanical to help build their next manufacturing facility in Arizona.​

The Phoenix, Arizona office opened in 2003, quickly followed by the Richmond, California office in 2004 and the Salt Lake City, Utah office in 2005. ​

Eighty years after the company’s founding, Dustin Harder transitions to president of Harder Mechanical Contractors in 2014.

As the fifth-generation of Harder leadership, Dustin continues the legacy his great-great-grandfather began nearly a century ago. With an eye towards the sixth generation, Dustin’s leadership is positioning the company as the mechanical contractor of choice by top clients across the country.

In 2024, Harder Mechanical Contractors celebrated its 90th anniversary—a milestone marking nearly a century of craftsmanship, innovation, and family-driven leadership.  The anniversary was a moment to reflect on the generations of Harder family leadership and the enduring values that have shaped the company: safety, quality, and performance. It was also a celebration of the people—past and present—who built Harder into what it is today. With eyes on the future, the 90th year reaffirmed Harder’s commitment to building the next era of industry-leading solutions and continuing a legacy that’s stood the test of time.