Last month, we followed G. O. Carlson, Inc. through the 1970s and 1980s, a period marked by technical accomplishments, diversification and continued change.
That chapter ended in 1991 with an acquisition that would significantly shape the future of the company.
G. O. Carlson, Inc. purchased Electralloy Corporation in Oil City, Pennsylvania, expanding the company beyond its traditional stainless steel plate business and into the melting and production of specialty and stainless steel alloys.
Electralloy produced a wide range of products, including forging quality ingot and billet, round bar, pig ingot for the investment casting industry, forged block, and weld wire for customers serving industries such as aerospace, defense, navy nuclear, and petrochemical. The acquisition gave G. O. Carlson new capabilities and provided the foundation for a period of substantial investment and modernization.
Electralloy also brought with it an important history of its own.
The company was known throughout the specialty metals industry for having the first commercialized Argon Oxygen Decarburization, or AOD, process. AOD refining had become an important technology in the production of stainless and specialty steels, allowing greater control over chemistry and quality.
Following the acquisition, G. O. Carlson continued to invest in Electralloy’s capabilities.
One of the most significant steps came in 1998, when G. O. Carlson invested in a new remelt facility at the Oil City operation. The investment expanded Electralloy’s ability to serve demanding specialty alloy markets and proved successful enough that the remelt operation was doubled in size in 2004.
Those investments represented an important evolution for the company.
The business that began in 1936 by purchasing stainless steel ingots and arranging for their conversion into plate was now directly involved in melting, refining, remelting and producing specialty alloys for demanding applications.
Investment continued into the next decade.
In 2010, a newly modernized Wrought Products operation was completed at Electralloy. The installation included a BT12 Hetran bar peeling cell, larger and more versatile saws, and a modern storage system for bar products.
These improvements expanded the company’s ability to process and finish specialty alloy bar while supporting the increasingly demanding requirements of its customers.
At the same time, G. O. Carlson’s original stainless steel plate business continued to operate from Thorndale, PA. Although smaller than during its peak production years, the operation had evolved into a more selective business focused on products and opportunities that best matched its capabilities.
By the time G. O. Carlson celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2011, the company looked very different from the business Gunard and Margaret Carlson had started.
Yet an important part of the company remained unchanged.
G. O. Carlson continued as a privately held, family-owned corporation controlled by descendants of its founders. The company’s 75th anniversary history also emphasized a philosophy that had carried through generations: that the reputation of G. O. Carlson was a direct reflection of the skill and knowledge of its employees.
From an 'office' carried inside Gunard Carlson’s coat pocket, to stainless steel plate stored beneath apple trees, to specialty alloy melting, remelting and modern wrought product capabilities, the company had continued to adapt while remaining connected to its roots.
At 75 years, the original company history described the survival of a privately held steel company for that long as “almost a miracle.”
Fifteen years later, the story continues.
Next month, we will bring the G. O. Carlson story forward from its 75th anniversary to today as we celebrate 90 years of family ownership, investment, employees and service to our customers.
