At the beginning of the 20th century, Louis Henry Véronneau invented a floor sander and decided to go into business. Previously a railroad construction foreman in the American Northeast, Louis Henry decided to name his company after a locomotive engine he had liked called "Simplex." And so, in 1907, Simplex Floor Finishing and Appliance Co, Ltd., today known as Location d'Outils Simplex, was born. In those days, even francophone Quebeckers tended to use English in the business world.

A dynamic and innovative businessman, Louis Henry set up at least ten other companies, all based on his own inventions. He even patented his floor sander in Paris in 1921. His son Roger came to join him in the family business in 1924, but with the onset of the Great Depression in 1929, the Véronneaus were forced to downsize. The other companies were all closed and Simplex's vocation was changed from selling floor sanders to sanding floors. Times were tough.

The Second World War revitalized the Canadian economy and Simplex began to expand again. The Canadian Army came looking for floor sanders and thus drew Simplex into the equipment rental business. Roger Véronneau took over the reins of the company in 1946 and, seeing the need for other types of tools and equipment in the thriving post-war market, began to diversify, specializing in the sale and rental of small tools. Simplex moved to a new storefront on Jean Talon Boulevard, near the old Jean Talon train (today the Park Metro) station.

By 1957, a third generation of Véronneaus was at the helm of the company. Roger's three sons, Guy, Bernard and Jules, decided to abandon the floor sanding business and limit themselves exclusively to renting and leasing tools such as floor sanders, polishers, and terrazzo finishers, as well as a range of small tools.

By the time the sixties rolled around, Simplex was well placed to take advantage of the construction boom that came with preparations for Expo 67 ("1967 International and Universal Exposition"). The company began further diversifying its inventory, adding compactors, specialized equipment for electricians and plumbers, pumps and gardening tools. Simplex's secret for success has always been the reinvestment of profits in the business.

In 1965, Simplex relocated from the Jean Talon storefront to the site of its present head office near the corner of L'Acadie and Côte Vertu Boulevards. In 1967, the company acquired its first forklift trucks and at the end of the seventies purchased its first articulating booms and scissor lifts. These three categories of equipment spearheaded the company's rapid expansion in the eighties and nineties.

On May 7, 1979, Guy Véronneau's two sons, André and Louis, showed their entrepreneurial spirit by starting their own business, Jalon Equipment Hire, at 5850, Louis H. Lafontaine Boulevard in Montreal's east end. On May 2, 1986, Guy bought out his brothers' shares in Simplex and asked André to become its general manager. Under André's leadership, Simplex was computerized and millions of dollars were invested in purchasing equipment, giving the company a strong market position.

In 1989, Yvon Arseneault was appointed to the newly created post of Vice President Finance and quickly becomes a powerful force in the company expansion. In 1990, Simplex opened a branch in Quebec City and then, in 1992, Jalon merged with Simplex and Louis joined his brother André at the head office.

During the 1992-1993 recession, Simplex adopted a strategy of affiliation with other tool and equipment rental outlets outside the Montreal area in order to be able to rent out its surplus inventory. But by 1995, the company decided to change directions again and began opening its own branches rather than teaming up with already established outlets. The creation of a network of stores all across Quebec became the management team's top priority, even as it continued to invest millions of dollars in top of the line equipment.

By 1998 Simplex had 125 employees in 8 branches with revenues of $19 million. The company created a human resources department, as the Véronneau family has always considered the equitable and respectful treatment of its employees to be a core value of the business. In 2000, Simplex became a member of the select group of companies named by the National Post as one of the 50 best managed private companies in Canada. In 2005-2006 the company reached a sales turnover of 63 million and ranked as the 29th largest tool and equipment rental company in North America, and 46th in the world for the number of articulating booms and scissor lifts owned by such a company, namely 1800 units.

Today and hundred years later, Simplex has more than 35 branches and close to 600 employees. Louis Henry invented a floor sander to facilitate the work of the sableurs who scraped floors on their hands and knees. After four generations, Simplex still maintains this vision: All human enterprise should exist only to render service to one's fellow citizens. Without a doubt, this is one of the secrets of its longevity and success.