Akron Brass is proudly celebrating their 90th Anniversary. Akron started in 1918 when former B.F. Goodrich Rubber company employees formed the Akron Brass Manufacturing company with the intent of producing couplings for the rapidly growing rubber lined fire hose market. Production began in a leased portion of an American Cereal Company building in Akron, Ohio. Demand was very strong and the company quickly out grew the leased quarters and found it necessary to relocate to Wooster, Ohio.
The company continued to prosper and in 1935, demands for additional expansion capital led the management team to incorporate. Constant improvement in the products and processes resulted in further rapid growth throughout the following years.
In 1962, Akron Brass merged into the Premier Industrial Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio. Under Premier, continued growth resulted in the increased need for manufacturing capacity and the facilities were expanded by the addition of 24,000 square feet on Spruce Street and 42,000 square feet on Old Mansfield Road in Wooster, Ohio.
In 1996 Premier Industrial merged with Farnell PLC of the United Kingdom to become Premier Farnell PLC. Premier Farnell has continuously invested in Akron Brass including a major facility expansion in 2001 and on-going investments in world-class automated machinery each year.
Over the past four years, through two acquisitions, Akron Brass has expanded its traditional product range to include scene lighting, junction boxes, reels, hand tools, warning lighting, general vehicular lighting, and multiplexing. In 2004, Akron acquired the former GFE Manufacturing in Washington, Illinois and then in 2005, Akron acquired the former Weldon Technologies in Columbus, Ohio. All these products are now offered through Akron Brass via their global sales and distribution network.
For more information, visit www.akronbrass.com or telephone Jay Johnson at 1-800-228-1161.
