The Lamson & Sessions Co. | Introduction
Introduction
25701 Science Park Drive
Cleveland, Ohio 44122-7313
U.S.A.
Telephone: (216) 464-3400
Fax: (216) 464-1455
Web site: http://www.lamson-sessions.com
Public Company
Incorporated: 1883
Employees: 1,116
Sales: $314.5 million (2002)
Stock Exchanges: New York Pacific
Ticker Symbol: LMS
NAIC: 326199 All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing; 335129 Other Lighting Equipment Manufacturing; 335931 Current-Carrying Wiring Device Manufacturing; 335932 Noncurrent-Carrying Wiring Device Manufacturing; 335999 All Other Miscellaneous Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing
For the vast majority of its over 135 years in business, The Lamson & Sessions Co. was a top manufacturer of industrial fasteners—including nuts, bolts, screws, and some exclusive parts—for original equipment manufacturers. But after inexpensive imports infiltrated the company's traditional markets beginning in the late 1960s, Lamson & Sessions made an illadvised diversification into the manufacture of railroad freight cars. The utter collapse of that market in the early 1980s nearly caused the company's demise. After a series of debt restructurings, divestments, and strategic acquisitions, the reformed company was primarily involved in the production of thermoplastic products. By the early 2000s, Lamson & Sessions was headed by its Carlon division, producer of electrical and telecommunications conduit systems, enclosures, electrical outlet boxes, and fittings. Among the customers served by Carlon are electrical contractors and distributors, original equipment manufacturers, electrical power utilities, and cable television and telecommunications firms. Serving the consumer market is Lamson Home Products, producer of electrical conduit and outlet boxes, lightingcontrols, and door chimes. The company's PVC Pipe unit produces polyvinyl chloride conduit for electrical, power, utility, and telecommunications markets, as well as large-diameter thermoplastic pipe used in wastewater management systems. Lamson & Sessions operates 11 manufacturing facilities in California, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Only about 3 percent of the firm's revenues are generated outside the United States, with the bulk coming from Canada.