Local company marks 100 years of firefighting support
Andrea Russell, left, of Akron Brass instructs a customer during a visit to the factory.
Akron Brass Company is marking 100 years of making firefighting equipment with an open house at its main facility in Wooster on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This will be the first time the company has opened its doors for public visits, and Akron Brass corporate communications director Kim Morrow said the company is excited for the chance to welcome the community and share its long history.
“It’s a major milestone not many companies reach,” Morrow said. “Making it 100 years is something to celebrate.”
Morrow also said it’s a day to learn more about a company that is a major worldwide provider of firefighting equipment “right here in our own backyard.”
Akron Brass began, as the name implies, in Akron in 1918, and the company has made its home in Wooster since 1920. “The company began when employees working for BF Goodrich saw a need for reliable brass couplings for fire hoses,” Morrow explained. “They started a company to do that, and it was successful.”
Today Akron Brass, now a division of IDEX of Chicago, has sales offices in China, India and Dubai. Manufacturing facilities in Washington, Illinois and Columbus, Ohio also supply various kinds of firefighting equipment.
“Our core product is still our line of nozzles. They’re also often called water canons,” Morrow said. “But we make products in vehicle electronics, lighting, valves, reels, monitors and other areas.”
The company holds a high percentage of the firefighting equipment market share and also makes products for equipment wash downs and care. An Akron Brass subsidiary, Weldon of Columbus, makes vehicle lighting and electronics for emergency vehicles and school buses.
Morrow said the company has had a significant impact on firefighting supplies and techniques over the past 100 years. “Our clients tell us we’re making a quality product,” she said. “There really is no margin for error. We make equipment for fighting fires, and we have to get it right every time. We supply fire departments all over the world.”
The 100th year celebration will offer tours of the Akron Brass manufacturing facility. “You can see really cool vintage firefighting equipment in our historical collection,” Morrow said. “There are a lot of Akron Brass production samples from over the years.”
Morrow said the day is planned around visiting families. “For children we’ll have a smokehouse with demonstrations, and both kids and adults can learn about fire safety and prevention. We’ll have a real fire nozzle set up with water so you can knock down a fake fire.”
Hot dogs, pizza, kettle corn and other snacks will be available.
At noon a water barrel contest will get underway for area fire departments. “It’s a variation on tug-of-war,” Morrow said. “A water barrel is suspended overhead, and they’ll direct a jet of water at it.”
The Akron Brass 100th anniversary open house will be held at 343 Venture Blvd., Wooster. The company website is at www.akronbrass.com and also maintains a Facebook page.
“Our company has been here in Wooster for a long time,” Morrow said. “But I think there may still be a number of people who aren’t sure what we do. This is a chance to come and find out a bit about us and for us to welcome the community and our neighbors in Wooster. We know it will be a fun day.”