Hubbell Incorporated

Hubbell Incorporated is a designer, manufacturer, and seller of electrical and electronic products used in a wide variety of applications. The company is divided into three divisions - electrical systems, lighting products, and power systems. Its Electrical Systems division supplies a broad range of electrical boxes, fittings, and enclosures as well as electrical and electronic wiring management systems, wiring devices, and occupancy sensors. The division has several brands including Austdac, Bryant Electric, Wirecon, and Hubbell Wiring Device-Kellems, to name a few. Hubbell's lighting products division offer a complete range of indoor and outdoor lighting items for various markets including landscape, residential, and industrial. Its brands include Alera lighting, Kurt Versen, Prescolite, Hubbell Lighting, Hubbell High Voltage, and Sterner, to name a few. The power systems division provides a wide variety of products and components that are used in the utility industry and for supporting the infrastructure used for transmitting and distributing electrical power. This division's brands include Hubbell Power Systems, PCORE Electric, Ohio Brass, Chance, Fargo, and several others.  

History

Hubbell Incorporated was founded by inventor, entrepreneur, and industrialist Harvey Hubbell II in 1888. The manufacturing facility's first product was a paper roll stand with a moveable cutter to be used in retail stores for wrapping goods. This specialized product was also Hubbell's very first patent. To build the parts of the product, Hubbel also created an efficient tapping machine which also became another patent as well as a popular product bought by other manufacturers. In the following years, Hubbell made a breakthrough in the fastener industry by designing and building a machine that assembled screws and small parts, a machine to slot screw heads, and progressive blanking and forming dies.  In 1896, Hubbell patented a "pull socket" which allowed people to turn an electric light on and off with a pull chain. Hubbell then ventured into electrical equipment manufacturing by designing a "separable plug" which is described by the company as "a product with individual wires permanently attached in the proper sequence and correct polarity, and one which could be connected or disconnected, easily and safely, to a power supply in the wall." Several other products designed for electrical circuits followed such as key sockets, lamp holders, and cartridge fuses. Hubbell also designed different configurations of the seperable plug including the duplex receptacle - a product that is still found everywhere today. By 1909, Hubbell already had 45 patents on various electrical products to his name. With the success of the company came the need for more manufacturing space which led to the building of a new facility using reinforced concrete - a new technology at the time. Over the next several years, the company's product line increased in range to include different types and sizes of light bulb sockets, a toggle light switch, low-voltage devices, and a mechanism that locked light bulbs in place. The company also introduced "Elexit", a system for lighting fixture connections that enabled homeowners to install most fixtures without the aid of an electrician. In 1927, Harvey Hubbell II died and was succeeded by his son, Harvey Hubbell III, as the President of the company. Like his father, Harvey Hubbell III designed new products such as "Hubbellock", an entire new series of locking connectors for industrial use; heavy-duty, circuit-breaking devices; and the "Twist-Lock" industrial connectors. In addition to this, Harvey Hubbell III also ensured the company's continued growth by establishing a network of distributors who would market and sell the company's products. During World War II, the company started manufacturing battery-charging systems for the M-4 Sherman tank as well as other electrical components for the military. After the war, the company returned its focus back on creating products for civilians. With an eye towards expanding and diversification, Hubbell started acquiring other companies during the 1960s such as Kellems, a company that manufactured wire management products, cord connectors, and mesh grips; Grelco, a manufacturer of industrial controls; Shalda Lighting; Euclid Electric; Watford Electric & Manufacturing; and Ralco Manufacturing. The company continued its acquisition spree during the 70s and 80s, acquiring Kerite, Steber Lighting, Pulse Communications, Southern Industrial Diecasting, H.K. Porter do Brasil, Metal-Arte Industrias Sao Paolo, Hermetic Refrigeration, Ohio Brass, Arrestor, Miller Lighting, and Killark Electric Manufacturing. The company's acquisition program continued until 2006. Today, the company has manufacturing facilities all over the globe, with joint ventures in several countries, and sales offices in Asia and the Middle East.

Headquarters & Locations

Hubbell Incorporated has its headquarters located in Shelton, Connecticut. The company has manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Italy, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, UK, Switzerland, and Australia. The company also has sales offices in China, South Korea, Hong Kong, the Middle East, Mexico, and Singapore.