Member of the Week 8/29/2022 -- Albright Welding Supply
Since 1928, Albright Welding Supply Co. Inc. has prioritized its customers. Founded as Albright Welding and Radiator Shop, the company has continued to adapt to its customers' ever-changing needs. They are a full-service welding distributor capable of providing tools, supplies, and services to professionals and homeowners.
EVOLVING WITH THEIR CUSTOMERS
In May of 1928, Arden F. Albright founded the business in downtown Wooster. Son-in-law Robert Horst joined the company in 1946 and added cylinder delivery services as well as greater expansion into welding fabrication. As a result, the radiator repair business became a separate entity. Albright Welding Supply moved to a larger facility, the present location, to allow space to expand the business.
The supply side of the business continued to grow. In 1976, they made the decision to focus on supply and distribution and discontinued the welding fabrication portion of the business. The third generation, Jim Horst, joined the business during this time as well.
The company continued to expand with the addition of a cylinder fill plant, cylinder testing, power tool and welding machine repair service, in-plant fire extinguisher inspection service and an outside sales staff. Automation Welding Systems was formed as an associate company to market robotic welding equipment, which led to a joint venture to purchase the inventory assets and customer list of a Columbus distributor, thus expanding their customer base in the welding robotics market. In 1999, they opened a branch store and warehouse in Orrville to enhance customer service in that area. To allow for inventory expansion, product displays, a dedicated welding machine demonstration area and a customer welding training facility, Albright Welding Supply added a 10,000-square-foot building adjacent to the Wooster facility. In-plant vending machine services were added in 2013 to better serve the needs of their manufacturing customers. In 2017, a third branch location was opened in Canton to develop opportunities to service Stark County and the surrounding areas.
“Our philosophy for years has been to have the same customers today that we had yesterday and gain more. And we do that by treating customers right,” Jim Horst, President said.
They are still supplying today many of the customers they did when Jim started.
RETAIL AND SERVICES
At Albright Welding Supply, they have the capability to fill a variety of industrial cylinder gases, medical oxygen, food grade gases, propane, cryogenic liquids as well as high purity gases for laser and laboratory applications.
The Albright Welding Supply van is used to visit customers for inspections to make sure their extinguishers are within pressure and will loan an extinguisher should it fail the test until they receive the upgraded equipment. The van is also used to service the vending machines at manufacturing facilities to make sure they are stocked with welding and safety supplies.
While they do business with manufacturers, their store offers many products for customers to just walk in and purchase off the shelves. They service what they sell with their service department for welders, a power tool repair department, and provide service for household fire extinguishers.
“We can provide a service to every household,” Steffan Horst, Vice President said.
THE DEMONSTRATION LAB
The demonstration lab is set up with a Miller side and Lincoln side for the customer's brand of choice. This area allows the Albright Welding Supply team to demonstrate the new machines to customers. It also allows the opportunity for customers to bring in their problematic small machines for the team to troubleshoot and determine if it’s a machine or a technique issue before sending it to their tech support.
SUPPORTING LOCAL
Albright Welding Supply is committed to supporting the local community. A local customer, Pioneer Equipment, recently received approval to be sold nationwide.
To support local students as they return to trade schools, they stock price-competitive helmets for those who are just starting out.
“The plan is to stay community-focused and community-driven and that way we grow with the customers,” Steffan said.
Albright Welding Supply is working to become more involved with the Career Centers to drive interest in welding and the career centers in general. They are working with manufacturers to give students the opportunity to gain the skills they need to be employed when they graduate.
FAMILY THROUGH AND THROUGH
Not only has the fourth generation stepped into the family business, but much of their staff is also the second, third, or fourth generation of their families to work for the company. It is a family-run business, but the whole business is uniquely a family.
LOCATIONS IN WOOSTER, ORRVILLE AND CANTON
Stop into the Wooster store at 3132 E. Lincoln Way or the Orrville location at 1623 N. Main Street. They also have a third branch in Canton at 1600 Perry Drive SW to service the Stark County area.