32 | The Fisher Story
1960s
1959 New 35,000-square-foot manufacturing
licensee plant opens in Revesby, New South Wales,
Australia.
1960 Acquisition of the Vickery Company (California)
adds advanced ball-type valves to the product line.
Fisher-Vickery cryogenic
ball valves for missile
service are assembled in
the white room, where
extreme cleanliness is
observed. Models are
supplied to Rocketdyne’s
booster engines for the
space program.
Fisher elementary school constructed in Marshalltown
on five acres of land donated by the Fisher family.
-320° F liquid nitrogen
tests conducted near the
Marshalltown boiler
house for the cryogenic
ball valve used in the
space program.
Furthering an agreement between Elliot Automation
and Manurhin, manufacturing begins in
Mulhouse, France.
Inspection
department,
1960
Expanding Overseas
I
n the mid-1950s, the company
began a period of tremendous
global expansion. It balanced
licensing agreements with direct
investments abroad.
By 1959, there were 69 sales
offices in the U.S.; 38 foreign
sales offices; and 5 licensed
factories (Australia, Canada,
Great Britain, France and
Argentina). Inventories
expanded in relation to the
growing product line and the
increased global volume.
To meet demand, Fisher
launched an effort to expand
international capabilities. This
required a high degree of
cooperation at all levels, with
different languages, customs,
regulations, laws and time zones
to consider.
Fisher-Marshalltown
established an international
sales department which served
as the focal point to coordinate
sometimes complex, multinational projects.
Bill Fisher sent managers on
assignment overseas, giving
them a chance to gain
international experience. How
successful were these expansion
efforts?
• Between 1955 and 1965,
annual sales increased from
$20M to $53M per year.
• From 1961 to 1962, export
sales increased 60%. Fisher
received another E flag and