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An orphan from Switzerland came to Central Illinois and around 1880 started a hardware store. His name was Henry Altorfer. In 1906, his teenage son A.W. designed one of the first power washing machines. Over time, through constant innovation, A. W. Altorfer's new company, Altorfer Brothers Company (ABC), became one of this nation's leading manufacturers of home laundry equipment employing over 1200 people.
Both of A. W.'s sons, H. D. and A. W. Jr., worked for ABC until it sold. In 1953, they bought a five-story, 125,000 square foot building intending to find something to manufacture on their own. In the mean time, they began warehousing other companies' products, so it was quite by accident that United Facilities, (UF) started in the public warehousing business.
With a background in design and manufacturing, they saw opportunities in the evolving logistics industry of that day. Instead of just product storage, they thought about mixing inventory coming from various points to ship customer orders. This type of innovative thinking led to the consummation of one of the first multiyear warehouse contracts in the nation in 1959, which established United Facilities as a pioneer in the outsource logistics industry.
Due to the continual excellent service provided in Peoria, one customer offered an opportunity to start a new distribution center out of state in 1967. This makes United Facilities one of the oldest existing multi-state warehouse service providers in the industry.
UF has developed new material handling methods as well. In 1980, the first prototype half-clamp forklift attachment was introduced. Even today, unique equipment is being designed to fit particular needs with two new attachments being developed in the last five years.
PC networked systems were seen as an operational, competitive advantage as early as 1984. A few years after that, a systems designer was hired full-time to develop a PC run networked WMS System, which, with several enhancements, is still used today. Also, in 1994, an off-the-shelf RF WMS system was installed. In 1998, the first intranet system was setup.
The nineties brought about many new initiatives to strengthen our customer relations. Product sampling services were provided in theme parks, as were in-store display setup, packaging, kitting, light assembly, and contract manufacturing services. Also offered were programming and technical writing expertise, computer aided design, layout and other engineering services and internet fulfillment.
Today there is still another generation of Altorfers active in managing the company.
Through an ever-expanding variety of services, the company has grown to 5,000,000 square feet with operations in nine cities.
United Facilities' success has not been by accident, but rather through innovation and superior customer service.
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United Facilities, Inc. @ 2007 all right reserved
P.O.Box 559, Peoria IL, 61651
Toll Free: 1-866-699-7271
Fax: 1-309-699-0228
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