Yesterday at The Valve Store(TM) we got a small piece of cake and had free coffee from the vending machine in the cafeteria.
125 years ago, on September 5, 1888, Automatic Switch Company was founded in Baltimore, Maryland; it was privately owned by the Darrin family. At that time, its products were automatic controls for elevators & generators, and pressure controls for pumps & compressors.
In 1904, Automatic Switch Company moved to Grand Street in New York City and sold its patents on elevator controls to the Otis Elevator Company. The Company then focused on the development of solenoid valves and switches under the ASCO brand name, and was the first company to successfully market an internally operated solenoid valve. ASCO introduced the first Automatic Transfer Switch in 1928.
In 1947, with 65 employees in tow, Automatic Switch made a major move to its first company-owned plant at Lakeside Avenue in Orange, New Jersey. Within 10 years, Automatic Switch grew to 575 employees with a variety of products and customers. In 1957, the Company moved to a brand new building in Florham Park, New Jersey, where it is still located today.
Starting in 1959, Automatic Switch started its overseas expansion, primarily setting up its own businesses in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Netherlands, Japan, UK & Germany. By 1966 ASCO US employment exceeded 1,000 people and required a substantial addition to the Florham Park facility.
On May 17, 1985, Automatic Switch was acquired by the Emerson Electric Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Shortly after July 1988 Joucomatic, a French company also involved in the solenoid valve industry & Fluid Power, was acquired. In 1990 Joucomatic was integrated into ASCO. Subsequently, in 1996 General Controls was acquired for our Valve business.On October 1, 1998, the Company split into ASCO Valve and ASCO Switch, Sirai an Italian Company, was acquired by ASCO Valve and Firetrol, a US Company was acquired by ASCO Switch. Over the following 15 years, ASCO Fluid Automation (part of Emerson Industrial Automation) and ASCO Power Technologies (part of Emerson Network Power) made several acquisitions – – Nurnatics in 2005 for Fluid Automation; ENP Surge in 2011 and AVTRON in 2012 for Power Technologies.
Both ASCO’s have enjoyed continued growth & development; they are leaders in their respective markets. We recognize that our employees make ASCO a great Company that has evolved and stood the test of time. Thank you all for making our Company successful and a great place to work.
ASCO is getting ready to celebrate its 125th Anniversary and to commemorate this milestone; ASCO Fluid Automation & ASCO Power Technologies will host a series of events to celebrate this important date. Details will be announced shortly.