Salem, Virginia: January 2010
Graham-White:Ninety-Five Years of Success, Lifetimes of Achievement
(SALEM, VIRGINIA, USA, May, 2009) — Imagine an idea so simple that it is still in use almost 100 years later. Who could have predicted that the company that invented a “Locomotive Sand Ejector” in the early 1900s would now employee approximately 300 highly skilled associates who provide Reliable Transportation Solutions across five continents worldwide? From humble beginnings in a small Roanoke, VA, office, to now occupying four production and service facilities strategically spread across the United States, Graham-White and a network of international business relationships has continued to prosper since 1914.
Weathering two World Wars, The Great Depression, and the current ‘Great Recession’, “has not been easy,” states current company president, Jim Frantz. “We are blessed to have had, throughout the years, incredibly talented men and women that chose to call Graham-White ‘home’. Like my great-grandfather, James Frantz, who helped found the company, a good portion of GW employees have dedicated themselves to the Graham-White (family) for their entire employment tenure.”
“Today, we are known as the global technology leader in the drying of compressed air for locomotives and rail transit vehicles”, says vice president Stewart Bruce. “Our 994-500 Air Dryer operates on the world's highest and most severe environment railroad, the QTR line from western China to Tibet.” The company’s assorted pneumatic devices are complemented with a wide array of electronic products like the SafeSet Locomotive Parking Brake, Air Dryer Power Analyzer, E-BELL, and an ASCTD branded as ‘Graham-White’s CADDIE’. All products are produced with lean manufacturing techniques using the Kaizen continuous improvement philosophy.
Stewart Bruce continues, “We operate a network of manufacturing, remanufacturing, and partnering suppliers that are available to serve our valued clients 24/7/365. Through www.grahamwhite.com and our EAX interface system, customers can access our product line and check order status anytime. Throughout the years our Customer Service Team has remained ‘World Class’ due to their unprecedented responsiveness. Their absolute attention to detail is a major reason our delivery performance averages 98% and customer satisfaction remains one of the highest in the industry.”
To further enhance business and customer need, Graham-White has greatly expanded their remanufacturing business. According to Stewart Bruce, “The opening of two remanufacturing service centers in Louisiana and Nevada along with the recent acquisition of The Vista Corporation of Virginia in Roanoke, allows us to serve the rail industry timely and economically. We now offer complete rebuild of locomotive engines and components. Our remanufacturing Super Hero, ‘REMANSM’, embodies the work ethic and dedication of our associates that breathe new life into your tired, worn-out heavy-rail and rail-transit components.”
Jim Frantz concludes, “All of us at Graham-White would like to thank those customers, partners, suppliers and employees that have contributed to the ninety-five successful years of this company. We would not be where we are today without their valuable support and sincere help.
Graham-White Manufacturing Company supplies an assortment of new and remanufactured severe-duty pneumatic/electro-pneumatic valves and accessories to heavy rail, rail transit, military, truck & bus, and industrial clients worldwide. Graham-White is ISO 9001:2000 and AAR M-1003 compliant. The E-BELL, CADDIE, SafeSet, and SludgeBraker brands are all registered trademarks of Graham-White Manufacturing Corporation.
Contacts:
Jim Frantz, president/chief executive officer, 540.387.5620, x0
Stewart Bruce, vice president of sales and marketing, 540.387.5620, x236
www.grahamwhite.com