Hersco Orthotic Labs has a history in the orthopaedic market that extends back over 65 years. Hersco was founded in the late 1930’s, in New York City, by Irwin Herskovitz. The company, originally called Hersco Arch Products, made a variety of custom and prefabricated foot products from materials such as sole leather, cork, rubber, and even stainless steel! The first employees of Hersco were mainly Eastern European craftsmen who brought their expert knowledge of shoe making and orthopaedics to America.
In those days surgical procedures were not as advanced, so orthopaedic doctors often turned to the shoe and arch support industry to look for mechanical or functional solutions to foot and ankle problems. People with leg length discrepancies, post-polio syndrome, club-foot, or just chronically flat feet all benefited from internal and external shoe modifications. Lifts, metatarsal supports, wedges, depressions, cushions, etc…. could all be added to an arch support to give lasting relief. Hersco shipped Schaffer plates (3/4 length) and Levy molds (full length) in leather, cork and rubber all over the country, where shoe makers and shoe repair specialists could then adapt and fit them for a particular patient.

Starting in the late 1960’s a quiet revolution began in the orthotics industry. Firstly, podiatrists emerged as the specialists in foot medicine, and along with them came improved surgical techniques. Secondly, a new understanding of the body’s biomechanics changed the way doctors thought about the functioning foot. Lastly, the development of

synthetic materials such as plastics, foams, carbon graphites and vinyls offered much more variety in designing and making foot orthotics. Vacuum forming hot plastic and urethanes, over corrected and balanced plaster feet, brought more science and precision to the fabrication process. Orthotics were providing improved foot control, better shock absorption, and pain-relief. Now, orthotics were being made not only for severe deformities but for serious athletes, weekend sports enthusiasts and even as part of the physical rehabilitation process. Hersco, then owned by Phil Cooper, quickly learned to incorporate these more advanced ideas and materials into its product line.
In 1995 my brother, Cathal, and I (Séamus) acquired Hersco. It was time to bring some new energy both to the manufacturing, and to the sales and marketing. With the advent of HMO’s the industry changed once again and Orthotic and Prosthetic (O & P) shops became major providers of foot orthotics.
I studied through the Pedorthic Footwear Association (P.F.A.) and became a Certified Pedorthist (C. Ped.) in 1996. We have continued to improve the company operation and to expand as new materials and ideas have developed.
As part of that expansion we bought over The Concetto Moulded Shoe Company in 2000, adding custom moulded orthopaedic shoes to our product line. Zaccaria Conchetto, an Italian immigrant, operated a moulded shoe factory for twenty years. He wanted to pass his company along to someone who would continue his legacy. We felt that the acquisition was a natural evolution for our business in response to patients’ needs and demographic trends. For example, the increase in people diagnosed with diabetes, and its resulting foot complications, is creating more demand for protective orthotics and shoes. Likewise, the general increase in obesity has also resulted in more foot health problems that we are addressing.
Today we are strictly wholesalers and our customers are mainly podiatrists and O & P businesses. They take a cast of the patient’s feet and send it to us along with a detailed prescription form. We make the products at our lab in New York City, and ship to our customers all over the country. In an ever changing environment we will continue to serve our customers using Hersco’s tried and tested formula: Outstanding quality, and friendly customer service.