Superior Glove Works Ltd.
| ISIN | 🆔 |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Founded 📆 | 1910 |
| Founder 👔 | |
| Headquarters 🏙️ | Acton, Ontario, |
Area served 🗺️ | |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| 🌐 Website | www |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
Superior Glove Works Ltd., more commonly known as Superior Glove, is a Canadian company headquartered in Acton, Ontario, which specializes in the manufacturing and distribution of work gloves and protective arm sleeves for various industries.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Originally concentrating solely on leather work gloves for the agriculture industry, in recent decades the company has expanded its reach to include those in aerospace, automotive and construction, among others. Specializing in heat resistant products, the company is one of North America's largest suppliers of worker safety gloves and sleeves, with distribution and production channels spread across the continent and around the world.
History[edit]
1910-60: Founding and local success[edit]
Founded as the Acton Glove Company[1] in 1910, the company joined a long line of industrial manufacturers which had operated in the area for decades.
Known primarily for its leather industry, which had been a prominent local fixture since the 1840s, Acton's numerous glove businesses had developed into a strong market, with a customer base extending as far as the prairie provinces, an impressive network for the time. Working alongside the tanneries proved to be key to their growth, as being associated with the Leathertown name brought considerable business from across Canada and the Northeastern United States.
During the First World War, the industries jointly assisted in the war effort by providing leather goods of all sorts for use at the Western Front, while working closely with Allied governments. Outside of a brief stoppage in April 1916 due to a worker shortage, the Acton tanneries were the only ones in the country which operated constantly throughout the war. Considerable growth in the post-war years lead to a boom of sorts leading up to the Great Depression, which helped support the town during its leaner years. In 1921 alone, Beardmore Leather and its subsidiaries produced over one million sides of leather.
By the 1950s, however, feeling financially stilted and facing economic hardship, many local businesses had either revamped, disbanded or left town entirely. The Storey Glove Company, a pioneer of local industry and existing in some capacity in Acton since the 1860s, closed in 1954. The building was demolished in 1962.
1961-75: Initial growth[edit]
With the town's commercial status in flux and the company in need of new ownership, the Acton Glove Company was purchased by Frank Geng and renamed Superior Glove Works Ltd. in 1961. With a background in leather tanning, Geng looked to take a more practical approach to glove-manufacturing and utilizing leftover scraps from nearby Beardmore, he crafted a glove for local farmers and factory workers that would allow for enhanced protection, while not limiting mobility and range-of-motion. The design proved popular and the company enjoyed some minor success, increasing their product range to five gloves (all leather-based) to meet demand.
In 1962, a new facility was built, equipped with leather processing capabilities and high-end manufacturing equipment, in addition to an in-house tannery. Although it has undergone further renovations and expansions since, the Acton headquarters is still at this location today.
1976-2010s: Expansion[edit]
By the mid-1970s, technological advances in the industry had extended far beyond leather. Looking for an opportunity to expand their offerings both in their regional markets and elsewhere, Superior began experimenting with newer materials. By 1980, a new line of cotton gloves was being developed and with the advent of innovative fiber technology, more additions to their glove lineup could be made.
By the latter half of the decade, the company began to consider expansion into Newfoundland. Many natives from the province had moved to Ontario and worked for the company but had struggled finding consistent employment upon returning home. In response, construction began on a facility in Point Leamington in 1988, along the Southeastern end of the province. 700 square feet of the Point Leamington Town Hall was borrowed for three glove sewing machines as the facility was being built. With a focus on developing the company's line of string-knit gloves and protective sleeves, the plant continued to grow well into the 2000s. Over 150 people are employed there as of 2016.
Alongside their Newfoundland developments, in recent years, the company has placed a focus on expansion, establishing distribution and production facilities in major corridors across North America and elsewhere. In addition to their operations in Buffalo, New York, Montreal and Edmonton, the company has also begun to place a focus on expanding into the Middle East, Europe and Central America. In November 2016, the company opened a facility some two hours from their Point Leamington plant in Springdale, Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2018, they opened a facility in Honduras.
As of 2018, Superior Glove carries over 3,500 styles of gloves while working with names such as NASA and AltaSteel.[7] They have been recognized as one of Canada's Best Managed companies every year since 2013.[6][8][1]
Frank Geng's sons, Tony and Joe Geng, are now president and vice-president of the company respectively.
Community Involvement[edit]
The company has been known to sponsor projects that benefit the local communities in which it operates. As far back as 1909, Acton glove workers were known to travel to the adjoining cities of Gloversville, New York and Johnstown (city), New York in New York state, helping to grow the glove industry in that area. In time, they would become known as the "Glove Cities". [1][9][10][11]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Grace, McDermott. "Rooted in Family, Sowing Success". Business in Focus Magazine. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ↑ Randy, Edison (14 May 2015). "Equipment adds efficiency, jobs". The Advertiser. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ↑ "Superior Glove Gets the Upper Hand with Data". Sisense. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ↑ "Government of Canada Lends Helping Hand to Growing Glove Business". Government of Canada. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ↑ "BEST MANAGED - Superior Glove - Research, innovation go hand in hand with success". Financial Post. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Superior Glove requalifies as one of Canada's best managed companies". ISHN. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ↑ "NASA""A Spatial Testimonial from NASA about our Cut Resistant Gloves". Superior Glove. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ↑ "Vanguard Congratulates Superior Glove Works on Receiving Canada's Best Managed Award in Consecutive Years". Vanguard Delivers. 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
- ↑ "SUPERIOR GLOVE SPLASH PAD OPENING". Georgetownon. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ↑ "Superior Glove donates $75,000 for Acton splash pad". Inside Halton. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
- ↑ "Town organizes annual spring cleaning over two days" (PDF). EARTH WEEK. 16 April 2008. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
External links[edit]
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