[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 134 (Thursday, September 18, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S5856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    140TH ANNIVERSARY OF A.O. SMITH

  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I wish to congratulate A.O. Smith 
Corporation, a ``Made in Wisconsin'' company on the occasion of their 
140th anniversary.
  A.O. Smith was founded in 1874 in Milwaukee, WI, and over the past 
century has grown rapidly from a small family business specializing in 
the fabrication of metal hardware specialties to a global water 
technology manufacturer producing residential and commercial water 
heaters, boilers, and water purification equipment. Today they employ 
more than 10,000 people across the United States and the world.
  The company was instrumental in helping to usher in the automobile 
revolution, developing a new, lightweight steel car frame a development 
that caught the interest of major car companies including Peerless, 
Cadillac, Packard, Oldsmobile, and Ford. Ford's initial order of 10,000 
frames led A.O Smith to develop the world's first mass production 
process for assembling frames, later introducing the world's first 
automated frame production line. This first fully automated frame 
assembly plant came to be known as the ``mechanical marvel'' due to the 
line's ability to make a frame every eight seconds--10,000 frames a 
day.
  Their engineers discovered an improved method for welding, allowing 
for the production of a wide range of steel products. This included the 
pressure vessel for oil refining and large diameter steel pipe, 
important components in the oil and natural gas industries.
  One of the company's most important and enduring innovations was the 
process of fusing glass to steel. By perfecting this process, the 
company developed a range of new products, including glass-lined beer 
kegs, glass-lined brewery tanks, and glass-lined residential water 
heaters. Glass-lined water heaters rapidly became an industry standard 
that endures today and led to A.O Smith's growth as a global company 
and as an important economic driver for Southeastern Wisconsin.
  In recent years, A.O. Smith has emerged as a vital player in global 
water technologies, developing solutions to our water challenges. A 
cofounding member of The Water Council, A.O Smith has helped ensure 
Milwaukee's place as a world water leader, while supporting economic 
development in Wisconsin. The Water Council helped bring about the 
creation of the Global Water Center, which houses water-related 
business accelerators and research facilities, including A.O Smith's 
global water treatment lab, where engineers conduct controlled testing 
on water purification products sold around the world. Bringing together 
their work has helped transform Milwaukee into one of the world's most 
significant hubs for water research, education, and economic 
development.
  I am proud to recognize A.O. Smith as a ``Made in Wisconsin'' leader, 
and I share my best wishes with the company and their employees for 
their continued success.

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