ABOUT HARRIS PRODUCTS GROUP |
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| Better Together |
| In The Harris Products Group, two Harris companies become one. |
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 he Harris Products Group was officially formed on May 1, 2006, with the combination of Gainesville, Georgia-based Harris Calorific, Inc. and Mason, Ohio-based J.W. Harris Company. Harris Calorific is a manufacturer of gas welding and cutting equipment, industrial and specialty gas regulation equipment, and gas distribution systems. J.W. Harris, on the other hand, is a manufacturer of brazing and soldering alloys and welding consumables.
POWERFUL COMBINATION
The merger resulted from a series of acquisitions by The Lincoln Electric Company, starting with the purchase of Harris Calorific in 1990 and followed by the addition of J.W. Harris in 2005. Included in the J.W. Harris acquisition was Autobraze, a manufacturer of precision brazing rings and return |
bends utilized in the HVAC industry. Later in 2005, Lincoln acquired Gulf Wire Corporation, a manufacturer of aluminum and stainless welding consumables, and Filler Metals, a supplier of niche welding alloys. |
According to Dave Nangle, The Harris Products Group president and CEO, “The intention of the acquisitions was to broaden our portfolio of consumable products for our worldwide customer base. The |
The integration of the two companies
means that distributors who once had to
contend with two invoices, two
purchase orders and two salespeople
now have just one. |
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| The Harris Products Group includes facilities in the United States, Italy, Ireland, Poland, Spain and Mexico, giving the company a broad global footprint. |
Harris Calorific organization is a world leader in gas cutting and welding equipment, while J.W. Harris produces the consumables that are complementary to the |
President and CEO Dave Nangle displays The Harris Products Group’s new logo, which combines elements of both Harris Calorific and J.W. Harris Company, and connects them to parent The Lincoln Electric Company.
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The Harris Products Group Sales Team |
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equipment line. The result of this union is a very powerful combination.”
SHARED RESOURCES
With the merger came many changes for the newly formed company. To represent both Harris organizations, a new logo was designed. The logo combines the best of both companies and connects them with their parent company, The Lincoln Electric Company.
The formation of the company allows customers to place a single order for both equipment and consumables.
“Distributors are finding it easier to place orders with one company rather than two,” says Nangle. “The integration of the two companies means that distributors who once had to contend with two invoices, two purchase orders and two salespeople now have just one.” As a result of the merger, The Harris Products Group expanded its sales force, and now has greater representation in North America.
The equipment and consumables customer service teams work in concert with one another to provide
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best-in-class service to Harris’ industrial distributor base.
The new company Web site, www.harrisproductsgroup.com, allows Harris customers to view all product offerings from a single location. Additionally, it provides technical resources to assist customers with specific product applications.
The sales team works with Lincoln |
Electric to educate distributors and endusers at Lincoln’s state-of-the-art training centers throughout the United States. In addition, the companies share engineering and supply-chain management resources, as well as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and Six Sigma initiatives.
Nangle characterizes The Harris Products Group as “a small company |
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The Harris Products group will continue to develop products with synergies across
its markets, such as the Powertorch line of air-fueled products.
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| THE HARRIS PRODUCTS GROUP |
| with big company resources,” due to its affiliation with The Lincoln Electric Company. “That is why we are so strong,” he notes. “Being affiliated with a financially sound company such as Lincoln gives The |
Nangle. “We have a very diverse group of engineers who are specialists in productivity and process cost reductions.” |
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| One result of the merger is that consumables are now being sold where Harris Calorific traditionally sold equipment, and equipment is being sold where J.W. Harris Company traditionally sold consumables. |
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“Distributors have always been
and will continue to be the key to
our success.”
— David J. Nangle, President and CEO |
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Harris Products Group a chance to focus exclusively on our business and the markets we serve.”
PRODUCT SYNERGIES
In 2006, Harris launched the Powertorch line of air-fuel products. This line will serve the HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, industrial welding and retail channels. The company plans to continue to develop products with synergies across these markets.
“We have detailed business plans that cover all aspects of our business, including finance, sales, marketing and manufacturing operations,” says |
Among the company’s new product offerings is a line of flux-cored, stainless welding products to be launched in 2007. Other product extensions include laser gas delivery systems, industrial and specialty gas manifolds, and medical regulation equipment.
SALES SUCCESS
The Harris Products Group continues to experience strong results. At the end of 2nd quarter 2006, sales were up 29 percent worldwide. The company is outperforming not only the market, but also its own business plan. “A lot of growth in the marketplace can be |
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Inventory for The Harris Products Group is fully stocked and distributed in
Los Angeles, California; Mason, Ohio and Gainesville, Georgia
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attributed to an improved economy,” says Nangle. “However, we also are seeing a significant conversion of competitive market share to the Harris brands.” Harris develops business plans with key industrial distributors that consist of an exchange of commitments. If both parties execute the agreement as planned, the end result is greater sales and profits for each. Russ Farrar, vice president of sales for The Harris Products Group, notes, “This process is something we have done for several years, and it continues to foster improved sales results.” The Harris Products Group continues to differentiate itself as an American-based company, with strong brands and superior quality. The sales team works closely with distribution to provide technical expertise and assist with product application. Nangle looks forward to even greater sales success as the two companies transition into one. “Distributors will continue to be the key to our success. Many of them think we are better together than separate. We couldn’t agree more.” |
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4501 Quality Place