Last month, we followed G. O. Carlson, Inc. through a period of significant industrial growth, culminating in 1973 when The Boeing Company selected G. O. Carlson as its Small Business Supplier of the Year.

As the company moved through the late 1970s and 1980s, the next chapter would be defined by continued technical development, diversification and the ability to adapt to change.

G. O. Carlson continued building on its expertise in specialty stainless steel plate. During this period, the company supplied material for a number of demanding applications, including the space shuttle program, the B-1 bomber, the Tokamak Fusion Reactor and the Fast Flux Test Facility.

Some projects were remarkable simply because of their scale. G. O. Carlson produced what were described at the time as the world’s largest stainless steel plates. One measured 2 inches thick by 184 inches wide by 451 inches long, while another measured 2 inches by 179 inches by 461 inches. Each weighed more than 49,000 pounds and was produced for Argonne National Laboratories. Carlson Invar 36 plate also found an unusual application in the construction of large telescopes deployed in the desert of Saudi Arabia.

The company was evolving in other ways as well. In 1979, G. O. Carlson acquired a controlling interest in Precision Shaft Corporation in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, a manufacturer of frequency-matched golf shafts. Five years later, in 1984, the company purchased Plastic Piping Systems, headquartered in Cranford, New Jersey. The company supplied industrial plastic pipe, valves and fittings through a network of
distribution centers east of the Mississippi River. Both businesses were later sold.

At the same time, G. O. Carlson continued investing in its core technical capabilities. In 1980, the company relocated its Physical Laboratory from Thorndale to the former Lukens sales office in Coatesville. The move provided larger laboratory facilities near the Viaduct Plant and additional space for the growing Engineering Department.

The decade also brought significant challenges. The Downingtown facility, which had served as the production headquarters for light-gauge products, was destroyed by a fire of unknown origin in April 1985. In response, production was shifted back to Coatesville while additional space was remodeled to accommodate the Downingtown equipment and employees.

The period also marked the passing of Margaret Carlson in 1981. Together, Gunard and Margaret Carlson had created the foundation of a company that remained family owned and continued to reflect the principles established during its earliest years.

By the end of the 1980s, G. O. Carlson had traveled a long way from Gunard Carlson’s original coat-pocket office. The company had expanded its technical capabilities, entered new markets, weathered difficult events and continued looking for opportunities to grow.

In 1991, that willingness to evolve led to one of the most important developments in the company’s history. G. O. Carlson, Inc. purchased Electralloy Corporation in Oil City, Pennsylvania, beginning a new chapter that would significantly expand the company’s position in specialty and stainless steel alloys.