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1972
The Asplundh Street Lighting Division is established to provide
inspection, washing and maintenance services to utilities and
municipalities that operate street lighting systems.
1974
With so much growth and diversification over the years, the Jenkintown
headquarters building is bursting at the seams, even after several
additions. To accommodate future growth, a modern building on a 12-acre
lot is purchased on Blair Mill Road in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania—our
current location. Two major additions and a large shop building have been
built since then.
1975
Branching out to serve a new market, the Asplundh Railroad Division is
formed to provide vegetation management services to the nation's
railroads.
Another addition is made to Asplundh's utility service selection when it
establishes the One-Call Division to set up and operate One-Call centers.
These centers act as the communications link between excavators and
member utilities who have underground lines to protect.
1982
After 14 years as president, Barr is elected Chairman of the Board and
Edward Asplundh, son of the late Carl Asplundh, is elected president.
Lester, who is now 81, becomes an Honorary Chairman.
1984
On May 3, after 56 years of influencing and managing the company's
progress, Lester dies.
International operations begin to take off in Canada as Asplundh buys out
its partner in Ontario and acquires a right-of-way maintenance company in
Alberta.
The Asplundh GMC dealership moves to a new building in Manahawkin, New
Jersey and a Buick franchise is added.
A brand new facility in Creedmoor, North Carolina becomes home to the
Asplundh Manufacturing Division after 26 years in Chalfont.
The Municipal Tree Division is established to assist regional managers in
pursuing contracts with municipal utilities and other public sector
agencies.
1986
Our first 'overseas' line clearance contract commences in the U.S. Virgin
Islands.
1987
The first of 15 third generation Asplundh family members completes the
company's Family Management Development Program. This program requires
several years of field training and is designed to prepare family members
for executive-level sponsor responsibilities.
Acquisitions of two tree service companies in British Columbia and a
right-of-way clearing company in Alberta greatly expand our Canadian
operations.
1988
Line clearance operations commence in Hawaii so Asplundh is now working
in all 50 states. Expansion into Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces of
Canada also begins with the establishment of Asplundh Canada Inc. As
Asplundh celebrates its 60th anniversary, it's noted that four of our
original five customers have contracted Asplundh crews continuously since
1928. At least 24 other utilities have contracted our crews for 40 years
or more.
1989
Diversification continues with the acquisition of American Lighting &
Signalization, Inc., a Florida-based heavy electrical contractor that
specializes in the construction and maintenance of traffic signal systems
and roadway lighting.
The first of the second generation family members working for the
company, Barr and Boyd Asplundh, retire from day-to-day operations. They
remain on the Board as Chairman and Secretary, respectively.
1990
Internationally, Asplundh reaches further beyond the North American
continent with a joint venture in New Zealand and the acquisitions of
several small line clearance companies in France.
Robert Asplundh, son of the late Lester Asplundh, is elected Chairman of
the Board.
Utility line construction operations in the Northeast—overhead and
underground electric and gas—greatly expand with the acquisition of B
& J Maintenance Co., Inc., a Long Island, New York-based company. The
name is changed to Asplundh Construction Corp. two years later as it
begins to expand into other regions of the United States. In the ongoing
effort to increase productivity and safety, as well as reduce employee
turnover, Asplundh initiates professional line clearance training crews
for their operations on several utility properties. This concept
continues to be used when necessary for particular operations throughout
the country.
Asplundh opens a Ford dealership in Ottsville, Pennsylvania.
A North Carolina-based traffic signal contractor, L. Fulcher Electric, is
acquired and operates as a subsidiary of American Lighting &
Signalization. The name is changed to ALS of North Carolina in 1994.
1991
To increase lift crew productivity and mobility, the Asplundh
Manufacturing Division introduces the LRIII-55 aerial lift which is
capable of over center movement and has an additional five feet of reach.
1992
Our western Canadian operations are now consolidated under the subsidiary
Asplundh Canada Inc.
An agreement is completed in July to sell the Asplundh Manufacturing
Division to Altec Industries, Inc. The main benefit of the agreement is
the assurance of a steady supply to Asplundh of modern, efficient aerial
equipment at a reasonable cost.
After 38 years with the company and 10 years as its president, Edward
Asplundh steps down and later resigns. The Board of Directors elects his
younger brother Chris to be the corporation's sixth president.
The concept of outsourcing grows in popularity among utilities looking to
become more efficient and competitive. Asplundh addresses one aspect of
this need by offering meter reading services for the first time.
More international growth takes place as new line clearance operations
commence in Australia. Asplundh also acquires Read & Co. Utility Services,
Ltd., an established tree service company in England serving customers
throughout the United Kingdom.
1993
Asplundh participates in the National Rural Electric Cooperative
Association's annual meeting for the first time. The company's annual support
of this convention and the organization in which many of our customers
belong, continues through today.
At the close of the company's 65th anniversary year, Asplundh greatly
expands its vegetation management capabilities with the acquisition of
certain assets of Southeastern Public Service Co.—a holding company for
several long-established line clearance tree trimming companies.
Contributing an experienced work force and an expanded customer base, the
companies become a vital part of Asplundh Subsidiary Holdings, Inc. and
they continue to operate as Blume Tree Services, Inc., Farrens Tree
Surgeons, Inc., and Tree Preservation Co., Inc.
Asplundh participates in the first "Trees and Utilities National
Conference" sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Our
active participation in this valuable industry conference continues
through today.
1994
In February, a powerful ice storm wreaks havoc in 14 states. More than
1,650 crews from 25 management regions are on storm duty, helping to
clear storm debris from roads and power lines.
Training gets a big push as more Asplundh Supervisory
Training Programs are held to integrate and develop
supervision from the acquisition companies and expanding
regional operations. Also, our newly developed Line
Clearance Training Certification Program is endorsed
by the National Arborist Association (now named the
Tree Care Industry Association) and meets new OSHA criteria.
Asplundh works with industry representatives to develop the ANSI A300
Pruning Standard which aims to promote better tree care and
professionalism in the industry. ANSI A300 is approved the following
year.
1995
Chairman of the Board Robert Asplundh retires, but remains on the Board
and Paul Asplundh, son of the late Griffith Asplundh, is elected
Chairman. In an effort to boost utility-related arboricultural research,
Asplundh contributes $50,000 to the Research Trust of the International
Society of Arboriculture and it continues to help raise much-needed
research funds today. To improve the flow of information between
Asplundh's diverse regional operations and reduce paperwork, a major
computer networking project swings into full gear.
Within a few short months, more than 90 percent of Asplundh employees
have completed the OSHA- mandated Training Certification Program—a fairly
high percentage for the tree care industry overall.
In the Pacific Northwest, Asplundh gains more specialized equipment with
the acquisition of certain assets of D & M Contracting. Use of this specialized
equipment, including Slashbuster mowers, increases productivity and
enables us to serve new markets.
As deregulation of the electric utility industry progresses and utilities
seek ways to become more competitively priced with superior reliability,
Asplundh enters into strategic alliances with a growing number of its
customers to help them control costs and improve service. Likewise,
Asplundh forms alliances with some of its major suppliers to reap the
same benefits in price and value.
1996
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. in northern California accelerates its
tree trimming program and for the first time in Asplundh history over 200
crews from all over the country are sent to work (for non-storm reasons)
for several months at a time in the John Macri Region to help get the job
done.
Asplundh One-Call goes international as it opens up One-Call centers in
the Canadian province of Ontario and in Sydney, Australia.
The 38-year-old Pole Maintenance Division evolves into a new subsidiary,
Utility Pole Technologies, Inc.
Continuing growth in the Meter Services Division warrants the
establishment of a new subsidiary, Utility Meter Services, Inc.
Over 1,100 crews help utilities and municipalities in North Carolina,
Virginia and Maryland recover from the devastation of Hurricane Fran.
Operations in France are closed and the Ford dealership is sold.
Branching out into a new aspect of utility services, Asplundh acquires
Underground Utility Locating, Inc. This subsidiary offers locating
services which help protect excavators and prevent damage to the
underground facilities of electric, gas and telecommunications companies.
1997
Chairman of the Board Paul Asplundh retires, but remains on the Board of
Directors and Carl Asplundh, Jr. is elected Chairman.
After over a year of development, Asplundh promotes its internet website
— www.asplundh.com — opening up a new communications link with current
and potential customers and employees.
Diversifying once again, Asplundh begins serving a new market—the outdoor
advertising industry—with the acquistion of Southern Outdoor Maintenance.
Renamed Outdoor Maintenance Co., Inc., this new subsidiary provides
vegetation management and construction services.
In a move to become a much larger player in the underground utility
locating business, Asplundh purchases all the stock of Central Locating
Service, Ltd., a well-established company based in Syracuse, New York.
1998
A massive ice storm in early January causes Asplundh to mobilize over 580
tree crews and 100 construction crews—the largest number ever—to help
utilities restore power in Quebec, Ontario, upper New York state and
parts of New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. For the first time in company
history, crews were sent into Canada (more than 300 of them) and 30 crews
(plus lift trucks) were airlifted by the military from North Carolina to
Maine.
Our new locating subsidiary, Central Locating Service, Ltd., acquires
certain assets of NORAM Damage Protection, expanding our locating
operations in Texas, Arkansas and Illinois.
As Asplundh celebrates its 70th anniversary, we look back once more to
see the relationships that have endured and prospered while the company
expanded and changed. Of the five original customers, four have
contracted with Asplundh continuously since 1928. We salute the Asplundh
people, resources and commitment to service that have made the company's
success possible.
1999
Read & Co. Utility Services Limited, Asplundh's subsidiary in the
United Kingdom, is acquired by Fountain Forestry for an interest in this
growing forest management and vegetation control company in the U.K.
More than 850 crews from 20 Asplundh management regions, more than the
previous record of almost 700 after the January '98 ice storm, were
mobilized in response to Hurricane Floyd in September.
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