Wise Components - A Distributor of Carlon Products:


Lamson & Sessions emerged during the industrial boom following the Civil War in Connecticut, where water power and skilled workers prompted the conversion from agriculture to industry. In 1865 at Mt. Carmel, Connecticut, a partnership was formed to take over Mt. Carmel Bolt Company. In 1866, the Lamson brothers (Isaac, and Thomas) teamed up with Samuel Sessions and operations commenced in Southington, Connecticut. With a total of seven people, the Company produced thirty items in the carriage bolt, tire bolt and nut product lines.

Sales trips to the Midwest enticed Samuel Sessions to move the Company in 1869 to the banks of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio. In this area of expanding markets; less competition; good sources of raw material; steam power and transportation, he envisioned growth and prosperity for the Company. The partnership was incorporated in the State of Ohio in 1883 and named The Lamson & Sessions Company.

As the demand for fasteners grew between 1921 and 1955, Lamson & Sessions responded through increased operations and an aggressive acquisition campaign. In 1928, the Company went public, selling shares of common stock on the Cleveland Stock Exchange.

During the 1960's and 1970's, The Lamson & Sessions Company continued to expand in the fastener industry through acquisition. In addition, the Company expanded beyond its traditional fastener business through the acquisition of manufacturing companies in industries such as: specialty fasteners, automotive accessories, metal stamping, doors for railroad cars, truck frames, industrial heat exchangers, aluminum castings, and freight cars.

In 1981, as a result of aggressive foreign competition coupled with a strategic shift, the company sold its industrial fastener division to Russell, Burdsall & Ward (RB&W) Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio. In 1986, the company acquired The Carlon Company from the Thyssen-Bornemisza Group (TBG). Carlon would be the core business of Lamson & Sessions.

Carlon was founded in Cleveland, Ohio in the early 50's as Carter Products Corporation, producing stamped metal products. The shortage of steel following World War II prompted Carter to move into the manufacturing of extruded plastic products. With this new focus, the company changed its name to Carlon Products Corporation. The company manufactured polyethylene pipe used primarily for fresh air supply, piping and waste water pipe in coal mine applications. Additionally, Carlon was one of the first manufacturers of the hula hoop. During the mid?1950's when the hula hoop craze swept the country, Carlon was producing more than 50,000 hula hoops per day! In 1962, Carlon was purchased by Continental Oil Company and the Company's focus began to turn toward plastic sewer pipe products and plastic conduit for the electrical, power and communications industries.

With the acquisition of Carlon, Lamson & Sessions embarked on a strategic plan to reconfigure the Company. With Carlon as the "Core" business, Lamson & Sessions developed and implemented a program to divest of all "Non-Core" businesses. The 1994 divestiture of Midland Steel Products, followed by the 1995 sale of Valley-Todeco, effectively completed the realignment of Lamson & Sessions. With this completed, the Company has adopted a mission with underlying strategic drivers to achieve world-class levels of customer satisfaction.

Today, Lamson & Sessions is a leading domestic producer of thermoplastic conduit, enclosures, wiring devices and accessories for the construction, consumer, power and communications markets, and large diameter pipe for wastewater markets. The Company's core competency in thermoplastic processing is the common tie through its four Business Units.


Wise Components - A Distributor of Carlon Products: