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During
1930, as the economy went from boom to bust, The Aluminum Company
of America (ALCOA) asked project engineers to find new uses
and markets for its aluminum products. Aluminum was a relatively
new material and supplementary uses were not readily accepted
by industry. Additionally, the depression was deepening and
ALCOA was searching for more sales. The idea to manufacture
an aluminum ladder originally came from a solicitation from
the Oslo, Norway, Fire Department. |
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fire department was seeking an alternative to the heavy wood ladders
that had been used since fire departments began using ladders. A 50-foot
wood extension ladder was extremely heavy and difficult to place in
position to fight a fire. One of the ALCOA project engineers, Sam
Carbis, submitted the idea to manufacture aluminum ladders to his
superior. After discussions by the ALCOA marketing group, ALCOA decided
that aluminum ladders did not fit into their corporate strategy. Thus,
as the depression intensified, Sam Carbis resigned from ALCOA and
created the Aluminum Ladder Company. With one customer, little money,
three employees, and many ideas and dreams, Sam rented a small building
in Tarentum, Pennsylvania to begin manufacturing aluminum ladders |
Sam Carbis survived the depression by innovative manufacturing
and marketing techniques, as well as a great deal of frugality.
By the beginning of World War II, Aluminum Ladder Company had
40 employees and had expanded its market to include aluminum
industrial step ladders and extension ladders. Sam's idea of
a "heavy duty", "lightweight" ladder that
he named the "Alco-Lite" ladder had captured the attention
of companies such as E. I. Dupont, Proctor and Gamble, Union
Carbide, and others. Sam's ladders could stand the rigorous
treatment that heavy industry demanded. |
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Sam became seriously ill in 1944, he turned over the reigns to his
24 year old daughter, Helen Cramer. During the time that women were
expected to stay home attending family affairs, Helen was catapulted
into the president's position and all the responsibilities related
to managing Aluminum Ladder Company. She quickly found that, in war
time, running a company was more difficult than normal. Aluminum was
rationed for the war effort, wages were escalating, employees were
hard to find and keep, and many resented a woman managing a business.
With determination, a desire to succeed, and refusal to accept "no"
as an answer, Helen finally negotiated a purchase for 15,000 pounds
of aluminum to keep production going. Once she received the material,
she decided nothing would prevent her success. Customers who refused
to accept a female business executive were directed to a draftsman
who served as a company spokesman. During a tax audit, the Internal
Revenue Service claimed that her $10,000 annual salary was exorbitant
for a female and forced her to reduce her pay to equal a company clerk.
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Near
the end of World War II, Helen's husband, Darrell, was wounded
and returned home from the European Theater. Darrell, also
known as "D.D.", rejoined his wife in the company,
and together they prospered with Helen controlling the financial
areas and Darrell managing the sales and manufacturing areas.
By the mid 1950's, the Cramers determined that the company
needed to relocate. Travel in the mountainous Pennsylvania
was difficult, and in the winter, hazardous. Ladder deliveries
and flight plans were constantly changing. Additionally, the
company had outgrown its two-story manufacturing facilities
in Worthington, Pennsylvania. In
searching for new sites, the Cramers discovered Florence,
South Carolina. Labor and manufacturing facilities were available,
the weather was good, and Florence had an airport. A decision
on the best site available was made, and in 1959, Aluminum
Ladder Company became the FIRST of a long list of companies
to locate in Florence.
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Once
relocated to Florence, the company continued to prosper until the
death of Darrell Cramer in 1968. Again, Helen Cramer resumed total
responsibility for the company. Some problems still remained with
a woman in charge, but using the same determination and desire to
succeed, Helen continued to manage the company. Fiberglass and mobile
steel ladders were introduced during this transitional period and
sales grew to $2 million. Her son, Sam Cramer, entered the business
in 1969, and assumed control upon her passing away in early 2001.
Together they established Carbis, Incorporated in 1976 to serve
as the marketing arm to Aluminum Ladder Company and established
Alco-Lite Industries in 1995 to serve the structural and miscellaneous
steel markets.
Since
the humble beginning in 1930, Aluminum Ladder Company, Carbis, Inc.,
and Alco-Lite Industries have grown approximately twenty percent
each year since 1985. With 200 total employees, combined
sales now surpass $22 million. While not well known in Florence,
the companies are recognized throughout the world, with our sales
force and forty-employee engineering staff advising all Fortune
500 manufacturing companies on access equipment, fall protection,
bulk loading and unloading, and structural/miscellaneous items.
As a result of our reputation in access equipment, the Saudi Royal
Family, after searching world-wide for a solution, commissioned
us to design and manufacture a system for changing lights in all
of their mosques. Major contracts continue with E. I. Dupont, Union
Carbide, Proctor and gamble, BASF, and others. Our office and manufacturing
have increased to 116,000 sq. feet with a 50,000 sq. feet expansion
planned for the near furture.
In
asking Sam Cramer the secret to success, one answer is given. The
employees we have here in Florence are the BEST. Since relocating
to Florence, our accomplishments would have been lessened without
our people.
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