Finally, we can read about how these great companies came about with Company Histories.. Thomas's next two acquisitions were Portland Willamette Company, a major manufacturer of firescreens and fireplace accessories, and House of Mosaics, a small producer of styrene and fiberglass lamps. In 1963, the company opened a new 250,000-square foot lighting fixture plant in Sparta, Tennessee, to replace the Benjamin Electric facility in Illinois, which was then closed. The lighting division maintained nine manufacturing locations, seven divisions across the United States, and 14 major product lines. https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/thomas-industries-inc, "Thomas Industries Inc. A mid-1880s publication estimates the college's annual contribution to the Valley's well-being at $40,000 to $50,000, about $1.2 million in today's dollars. In 1974, Thomas engineers unveiled a series of new products that was to contribute much to the company's overall growth and to the direction it would take in coming years. Two years later, Moe Light expanded by opening a new residential lighting factory in Kentucky and acquiring the Los Angeles-based Star Lighting Fixture Company. A 1958 acquisition added the Benjamin Electric Manufacturing Company to the Thomas Industries stable. These 1972 buys were followed in 1973 by the purchase of Abbott Industries, a producer of childrens lamps, and Spring Steel Fasteners, Inc. In 1978, Thomas acquired Pouliot Designs Corporation, a manufacturer of artificial plants, floral arrangements, and fiberglass planters. In 1988, the company sold its interests in North American Decorative Products and Pouliot Designs, companies that were not part of the core businesses. The brothers planned to use sales revenues from the pressure cooker contract to return to the lighting fixture business. That same year, Thomas opened a new 114,000-square foot residential lighting fixture plant in Hopkinsville, Kentucky and moved its corporate headquarters from Wisconsin to Louisville, Kentucky. In 1953, Moe Light Inc. and the Electric Sprayit Company merged, under the name of Thomas Industries. The final two divisions were more geographic in nature. The next several years were devoted to the dual goals of building the core businesses and divesting of companies that no longer "fit"--that is, those that fell outside the parameters of the two identified growth areas. To better order and manage the business, the company was split into five operating divisions. (905) 294-9811 The year 1957 saw the addition of the Radiant Glass Company of Fort Smith, Arkansas, a producer of street lighting globes and opalware glass for lighting fixtures. Retrieved April 12, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/books/politics-and-business-magazines/thomas-industries-inc. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). Text. U.S.A. The pooling of the companies made the newly formed Glenlyte Thomas the third largest lighting fixture manufacturer in North America, with a domestic market share of approximately 13 percent. Public Company Both Abbott Industries and House of Mosaics served to broaden Thomas's Residential Lighting Division, while Spring Steel Fasteners, which produced products for the electrical and construction industry, added to the Commercial and Industrial Lighting Division. This report is by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee By the end of 1975, the company's fleet of delivery trucks was distributing products to more than 1,500 customers throughout the nation. This product gave Thomas the distinction of being the only U.S. manufacturer of both electronic ballasts and fluorescent fixtures. But "impact" goes far beyond additional money in governmental coffers and citizens . The lighting division maintained nine manufacturing locations, seven divisions across the United States, and 14 major product lines. Thomas Industries had expanded well beyond the two-facility operation it began as 18 years earlier. The first, Oliver-MacLeod Limited, of Ontario, was a manufacturer of insulated chimneys and fireplaces. Further growth for the lighting division came with the introduction of a patented, totally electronic fluorescent ballast. Thomas Industries expanded yet again in 1962 and 1963. Fax: (203) 363-7295 Two years after the merger, Thomas Industries began to diversify further, acquiring a power saw manufacturer and a Detroit-based bathroom cabinetry manufacturer. There is 1 item in your cart. In 1990, the compressors and pumps division opened a sales office in Japan, which was followed in 1992 by a sales office in Brazil. Don began his career in industrial coatings in 1979 at Busch and Latta. The companys 1998 annual report noted that, Thomas Industries, formerly a two-core business, has now become a company focused on significantly growing its already world-class compressor and vacuum pump business.. At that time, Electric Sprayit Companys Sheboygan, Wisconsin, plant produced paint spraying equipment, specialized lighting for the government, and ordinance items. In response to the growing do-it-yourself home improvement market, Thomas launched a new distribution and marketing effort in 1975. Henrik's two sons joined the business in the early 1930s, and in 1938, the company moved its operations from Milwaukee to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648 Thomas Industries was formed in a 1953 merger of two companies--a lighting fixture manufacturer and the maker of electrical spraying machines--both of which came into being in the late 1920s. In 1961, these units were reconfigured to accommodate other continuous-air source applications. Moe Brothers was purchased in 1948 by a Louisville investment group headed by Lee Thomas. Over 40 percent of the $177.2 million total sales were non-domestic. In 1962, the company acquired the Thomas Products Company of Johnson City, Tennessee, a manufacturer of paint rollers, roller pans, and roller covers. Also in 1974, Thomas acquired its second clock manufacturer: Colonial Manufacturing Company, a 76-year-old company with production facilities in Zeeland and Grand Rapids, Michigan. The company's decision to realign its investments set the stage for the next phase of the company: an intensified focus on what are today the company's two main businesses--OEM air pumps and compressors and lighting. "Thomas Industries Inc. Until the late 1990s, Thomas was also known as a leading producer of consumer, commercial, and industrial lighting fixtures. By 1998, 50 years after Lee Thomas bought the Moe brothers stock, Thomas Industries had grown into a major player in its two targeted businesses. The final two divisions were more geographic in nature. Text for H.R.4521 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 Products for the automotive and copying equipment manufacturing industries were especially key to this new phase of growth. The Radiant Glass Company took over production of the blown glass components for Thomass lighting fixtures, which had previously been purchased from outside providers. The remainder of the 1950s were characterized by growth in the form of more acquisitions. To reach this objective, we must continue internal growth and make strategic acquisitions that expand our product line, offer new technologies, or allow us to extend our market reach with new or exiting OEMs. Henriks two sons joined the business in the early 1930s, and in 1938, the company moved its operations from Milwaukee to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin. Fax: (203) 799-4205 International Directory of Company Histories. 584 Derby Milford Road High performance and great value from high quality products. Copyright 2023 Web Solutions LLC. Thomas Lighting has been in the lighting business for over 90 years, though not as the same name. He and his wife Kate have two sons, Tom and Mac, and are members of Buncombe Street United Methodist Church. Enjoy this online issue or pick one up wherever you shop! The second, Fastway Fasteners, of Ohio, manufactured metal and plastic fasteners--a complement to Thomas's 1973 Spring Steel Fasteners acquisition. In 1990, the German pump and compressor maker, Wilhelm Sauer GmbH, was acquired. Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Thomas Industries has more than 25 manufacturing and distribution facilities located in the United States, Europe, and Asia. During these years of market expansion, the company was also broadening its geographic reach. Most telematics systems simply relay information on driver behaviour to the traffic office where it can be analysed and used to correct aspects of . (Tangmasi, general During World War II, both companies stopped making their standard product lines in order to produce materials for the war effort. Overview. In 1961, Lee Thomas stepped down from his position as president of Thomas Industries and was elected to serve as chairman of the board of directors, as well as CEO. Glenlyte Group and Thomas Industries Agree to Create Powerful New Joint Venture, Business Wire, April 29, 1998. One of the most significant acquisitions, and the company's largest to date, occurred in 1989 when Thomas purchased Day-Brite Lighting for $90 million. One of the most significant expansions for this division came in 1996, however, with the acquisition of Welch Vacuum Technology. We seek to be the preferred supplier by providing the best solutions in global markets where there is an application need for pressure, vacuum, or flow. The second, Fastway Fasteners, of Ohio, manufactured metal and plastic fastenersa complement to Thomass 1973 Spring Steel Fasteners acquisition. At the close of the war, in 1946, Moe Brothers received a large contract from Sears to produce household pressure cookers. Essentially, the merger of Thomass lighting division with The Glenlyte Group served to further separate the companys two core businesses. by Thomas Lighting $131.20 Save/Compare Titan - 10 Inch 15W 1 LED Flus. Ft vacant lot, other homes in the area. Its Residential Lighting Division, which consisted of the former Moe Lighting and Star Lighting lines, included dimmers, recessed, hand-blown glass, and illuminated signs. The 1970s were to be characterized by a similarly rapid growth rate for Thomas. The lighting fixture side of Thomas Industries traces its history back to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and two brothers: Henrik and Ole Moe. To better order and manage the business, the company was split into five operating divisions. Deciding to stay with the industry they knew, the Moes formed another lighting fixture company called Moe Brothers Manufacturing. 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