Water Rails & Oil - Historic Mid & South Jefferson County
An illustrated history of the Mid and South Jefferson County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
An illustrated history of the Mid and South Jefferson County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
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❖<br />
AMERICAN<br />
VALVE &<br />
HYDRANT<br />
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE PORT ARTHUR<br />
PUBLIC LIBRARY.<br />
American Valve & Hydrant (AVH) has been<br />
part of Beaumont, Texas’, business community<br />
since 1951, when a local businessman purchased<br />
a small tract of land and built a foundry<br />
at 3350 Hollywood Avenue.<br />
American Cast Iron Pipe Company (ACIPCO)<br />
of Birmingham, Alabama, bought the site in 1969,<br />
and began an extensive building and<br />
modernization program. The thirty-eight-acre site<br />
now includes a large, modern shop utilizing CNC<br />
equipment, and assembly areas for all its products.<br />
Complementing its production of steel and<br />
ductile iron pipe, the Beaumont facility allowed<br />
ACIPCO to offer a complete line of waterwork<br />
products to its customers. <strong>Water</strong>work valves<br />
from 2 inches to 66 inches, fire hydrants,<br />
tapping sleeves, indicator posts and a complete<br />
stock of parts are built at AVH.<br />
Several truckloads of quality valves and fire<br />
hydrants from AVH are shipped each day to<br />
customers and distributors throughout the<br />
United States and around the world. AVH is the<br />
only hydrant manufacturer in Texas. As an<br />
affiliate of ACIPCO, it supports one of the<br />
world’s largest manufacturers of pipe, valve and<br />
hydrant products for water, sewer, gas<br />
transmission and industrial markets.<br />
In 1997, AVH became registered to the ISO<br />
9001 Quality Standard. Regular audits are<br />
conducted to ensure documentation and<br />
procedures are current and meet the ISO 9001<br />
standard and requirements.<br />
AVH adds state-of-the-art equipment<br />
regularly. Its employees receive continual<br />
training, good pay and other benefits.<br />
The unique Christian principles that have<br />
guided ACIPCO’s operation since 1905 have also<br />
influenced the management culture at AVH. The<br />
“Golden Rule” philosophy, promoted by<br />
ACIPCO founder, John J. Eagan, encourages<br />
employee involvement in the community.<br />
A long-time business partner in the School<br />
Volunteer Program of the local public schools,<br />
AVH encourages people from all levels of the<br />
company to serve on boards and committees of<br />
organizations such as United Way, March of<br />
Dimes, Chamber of Commerce and education<br />
initiatives. Employees are always ready to<br />
conduct fundraisers to help with special needs<br />
that may arise in the community.<br />
American Valve & Hydrant takes pride in its<br />
heritage, and in serving the needs of industrial<br />
and municipal customers throughout the United<br />
States and worldwide.<br />
94 ✦ WATER, RAILS & OIL
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