Aldon

“We’re old fashioned — but progressive.”

That’s exactly how Joe Ornig, president of Aldon® Company, Inc., characterizes the company he leads.

With deep roots in the railroad industry dating back more than 100 years, Waukegan, IL-based Aldon Company has charted a steady course in the manufacturing and distribution of a wide variety of railroad safety and track repair tools.

Ornig spoke recently with Grain Journal to tell more about the company’s rich history in the railroad industry, as well as its secrets to longevity.

Company History

Aldon was founded in 1904 by Emil W.K. Roe, a railway supply salesman who decided to quit his job and start his own business.

“It’s in the great American tradition of individual enterprise,” says Ornig. Roe picked a good location to start his business. Chicago was the rail hub of the country, with more tracks radiating in all directions than any other city.

In searching for a name for his new firm, Roe hit upon Aldon. It had the advantage of being at the front of the telephone book. According to family legend, the name was born when a friend of Roe’s asked if a new product had been completed. “It’s all done,” Roe replied. The name Aldon stuck, and it is a registered trademark of the company.

Until the 1950s, Aldon’s main market was the railroads. The product line was limited to rail-cutting saws, rerailers, hand car movers, and railroad car stops. In1955, seeking to diversify the product line, the company’s third president, Ralph Switzer, patented a new type of wheel chock for freight cars, one made in cast steel with replaceable steel spurs to keep the chock in place on the rail. This product line, says Ornig, opened up the industrial rail-using market and led to substantial growth.

The advent of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1971 increased the demand by industries for railroad safety products. In 1975, the company built a new factory and offices in Waukegan, 40 miles north of Chicago.

“We like to say that we are one of those few businesses that actually benefited from government regulations,” Ornig jokes.

Today, Aldon remains a family-owned business in Waukegan and employs 17 people full-time.

Products and Services

Ornig says the company offers a greater variety of railroad safety and track repair tools than any other supplier. “This steady increase in product diversity within our specialized field has been deliberate,” says Ornig, who spends much of his time in product development. “Railroading is the same everywhere in its essentials, and anyone who ships or receives materials by rail needs the same basic products, so why not offer the greatest array?”

Although the company resells a number of rail-related products, it remains primarily a manufacturer. Aldon’s core products are railroad wheel chocks, derails, warning signs and holders, and railroad car stops. “Wheel chocks are what we are best known for,” says Ornig.“Our second most popular product line is derails.”

For 40 years, Aldon sold derails made by others. “By 2008, our derail business had grown to the point that we decided to begin manufacturing our own. In 2010, we patented our lightweight Sabertooth® portable derail, which features tool-free installation and a safety hook that bites into the tie to keep the derail in place,” Ornig says.

Even after 113 years in business, Aldon remains “remarkably youthful” in its desire for product innovation. “We are continually surprised at the possibilities for new products that will make for safer railcar handling,” says Ornig. “We encourage our customers to suggest ideas to us.”

Engineering Strength

a small company, Aldon has impressive engineering capabilities. “Our chief engineer, Mike Lannan, is a graduate of the renowned Milwaukee School of Engineering,” says Ornig. “customers can talk directly to him on technical matters.” Aldon also partners with a licensed engineer whose firm provides design and manufacturing services.

Marketing Strategy

“Marketing is as important as product innovation,” says Ornig. “Our catalog is the crown jewel of our advertising program. We get compliments on it. Printed literature designed well still carries a big impact.”

The Aldon website lists nearly 1,000 catalog numbers. The Aldon EXPRESS, a company newspaper, combines product news with railroad history. Aldon advertises in a dozen trade publications. “In good years and bad years, we keep our name before the public,” he says. Aldon supports a large national network of distributors. Even overseas, the Aldon brand is known. “Our export distributor is our biggest customer,” he adds.

What’s New

Aldon has a number of new products launched or in the works for 2017. It recently introduced a line of urethane wheel chocks for rubber tire flanged-wheel railcar movers. “We are currently testing a new line of trailer-stabilizing jacks for our sideline truck dock safety department.” Also in development is a new style portable derail to “round out” the company’s derail family.

Keys to Success

The company’s business philosophy is simple: Be fair to your employees, customers, and suppliers, and you will have their loyalty. Ornig also points out that in Aldon’s 113-year history, the company has had only four presidents. “How many companies can claim that? Management continuity has something to do with a company keeping its reputation and surviving,” says Ornig, who has been with the company for 40 years and president since 2000. He adds that many of Aldon’s employees have 20 or more years of service.

Aldon believes in responding promptly to customer requests. “We don’t use automated answering services here,” says Ornig. “Our ‘menus’ never change.” Instead, when a customer calls Aldon, they are helped by a live person. “We wish more companies would follow our example of direct access for customers.”