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INCORPORATING COLD CHAIN
Parker’ s Refrigerating Specialties Division celebrates 100 years
Last year, Parker’ s Refrigerating Specialties Division marked the momentous occasion by assembling its US-based employees for a picnic at the Mauston plant. The division’ s marketing team gave a presentation that outlined the company’ s history during the centennial picnic.
Founded in 1916 by Charles C Hansen in Forest Park, Illinois, Refrigerating Specialties Co. began as a producer of various ammonia valves for refrigeration applications. Within its first five years, the company was a critical supplier to a number of customers, some of whom— such as Frick Company, Howe Ice Machine Company, and Vogt— remain customers today.
Just as Parker transformed its production to help the war effort during World War II, so did Refrigerating Specialties Co. produce landing gear parts for Allied warplanes in the 1940s.
Hansen’ s son and eventually grandson took over the family business and led it to great growth and prosperity through the 1960s. Outgrowing its production facility in Forest Park, Refrigerating Specialties opened a manufacturing and sales headquarters in Broadview, Illinois in 1964. Its administrative offices are still based there today.
By 1975, Refrigerating Specialties reached USD5-million in annual sales. The following year, Parker acquired the company to fill critical gaps in its valve product line to serve industrial customers.
The division’ s growth continued following this acquisition. By 1980, annual sales had reached USD10-million, and by 1995, USD25-million. The division continued to add and improve product lines to meet its customers’ needs.
During the 1990s, Refrigerating Specialties focused on quality improvement initiatives and added the SPORT valve line to address commercial refrigeration business. It also achieved ISO 9001 certification and added square footage to its Mauston production facility.
These improvements positioned the division to turn more of its attention to global markets. In 2005, Parker acquired Herl based in Cologne, Germany, which helped grow the division’ s presence in Europe. In 2012, Refrigerating Specialties opened operations in Wuxi, China.
With a 100-year history comes a unique perspective on the future of industrial refrigeration. Refrigerating Specialties continues to innovate and adapt its products to the current and future needs of the market. In 2014, the company commissioned an ammonia test facility in its Broadview headquarters, which allows for research and development into new products and control technologies. With the introduction of the P-Series of weldin control valves in 2015, the company ensured its long-term strategy of supplying valves for the global refrigeration market would continue to be a successful one.
While these were significant steps for Refrigerating Specialties, it has been serving global customers for a century. As part of its centennial celebration, the company recognised a number of its distributors, some of whom have worked with Refrigerating Specialties for 50 years, during Chillventa in Germany.
Drew Stock, product manager for Refrigerating Specialties, remarked on the significance of this milestone,“ For Parker and for our division, customer service is paramount to our customers’ success and to ours. We deal with a tough product
environment and we’ ve got an important job: we’ re keeping the world’ s food supply safe,” Stock said.“ Being around for 100 years means you’ re doing a lot of things right.”
Andy Kuester, marketing manager for Refrigerating Specialties, adds,“ In honour of our centennial, Refrigerating Specialties would like to thank our employees, our customers, and Parker for their dedication and continued support throughout the years.”
Jack Agencies awarded for 30 years’ service As part of the 100th celebration, the Refrigerating Specialties / Parker distributor in South Africa, Jack Agencies, received a plaque for their 30 years of commitment as the sole Refrigerating Specialties distributor in South Africa. John Ackermann accepted the plaque during a celebratory event held at Chillventa in Germany in October. CLA
The plaque that Jack Agencies received.
Parker
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Staff at the 100-year celebrations in the US.
www. coldlinkafrica. co. za COLD LINK AFRICA • January | February 2017