Hudson History - Celebrating a Century of Improving ... - HD Hudson

In November 1987, the Smithsonian Institution opened an exhibit in its National Museum of American History titled, The Search for Life:
Genetic Technology in the Twentieth Century. The exhibit featured a Hudson Bugweiser 3-gallon sprayer.
On April 25, 1987, Advanced Genetic Sciences (AGS) in
Oakland, Calif., made international history and news when
they sprayed a gene-altered bacteria on a strawberry patch.
The sprayer they used was a Hudson Bugwiser 3-gallon stainless
steel model. In November, the Smithsonian Institution opened an
exhibit at the National Museum of American History titled, The
Search for Life: Genetic Technology in the Twentieth Century.
The sprayer used by AGS was displayed in the exhibit.
Even with this type of recognition for its products, Hudson
continued to look for new ways to improve its lines. In
1988, the company introduced Viton parts kits and also
introduced carded parts.
During the late ’80s another member of the Hudson family
joined the business with Robert C. Hudson III coming on
board as Corporate Services Manager, reporting to Earl
Sorensen. By 1992, Robert had become Division President of
Hudson’s Quality Products and Northland Plastics divisions.
Robert also continued the family’s history of commitment to
42 Chapter XII Changing Times
the industry and was selected as Chairman of the American
Hardware Manufacturers Association Hardlines Technology
Committee. Robert had served on the committee over three
years assisting in the development of guidelines and standards
for electronic database and customer service systems.
In June 1991, Hudson decided to end its business in stock
tanks and placed the facilities in Overland Park, Kan., and
Ravenna, Ohio, up for sale. The stock tank and Fun Pool
business was purchased by Hastings Equity Grain Bin
Manufacturing Company, Hastings, Neb. At the same time, the
professional division business was consolidated in Chicago.
As Hudson was divesting itself of some business units, it
continued to invest in new technologies. In May 1992,
Hudson began converting its electronic data processing to a
new corporate management information system known as
M2K. In June 1994, the company went “live” with EDI, and
Lowe’s became the first customer to send in electronic
purchase orders and to be billed electronically.