Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc. Celebrates 100 Years of Extraordinary Achievements.

CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. -- Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc., the leading washroom equipment manufacturer in North America, celebrates a 100-year legacy of extraordinary people whose creative innovations and new concepts for functional washroom products and solutions have set the world's standard for today's health and hygiene. As Bobrick crosses this remarkable milestone, the company reflects on its long history with an open house celebration to welcome Clifton Park government officials, business community leaders, employees, friends and families.

The year 1906 was chock full of firsts. Oklahoma became America's newest state, the community of San Francisco suffered a devastating earthquake, and inventor G.A. Bobrick started a new company to produce industrial chemical cleaners in Los Angeles. With an unstoppable will to form an organization that maintained a high level of respect for well-made products, Bobrick had soon produced the first U.S. patented soap dispenser, which by all accounts, became a big hit. However, the company's major breakthrough came in 1961, with the introduction of a unique and conceptually new line of recessed stainless steel multi-purpose washroom units, regarded by building owners and architects alike as the most spectacular advance in commercial washroom equipment in half a century. Today, Bobrick leads the washroom equipment manufacturing industry by continuing to follow the company's first objectives -- to design, develop and manufacture only the best.

Rapidly expanding, Bobrick established an Eastern Division in 1958 in Brooklyn facilitating its growing number of product firsts. In 1974, Bobrick moved its Eastern Division north to Clifton Park, a facility that pioneered the company's efficient manufacturing process of flow manufacturing and self-balancing cells enhancing the overall efficiency of Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc. Since opening, the division has a long history of providing steady employment opportunities that contribute to the growth and vitality of the region.

"For more than a quarter century Bobrick has called Clifton Park home for this manufacturing facility," said Richard Hayden Rose, division manager, Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc. "We are proud of the fact that we are not just an employer, but also an integral part of this community that welcomed us to this region," he added.

Purchased by William S. Louchheim in 1946, the company's presidents have included Gordon S. Bodek beginning in 1970, and two additional generations of Louchheims, with the appointment of Sandy Louchheim in 1985, and current president Mark Louchheim serving since 1993.

"As a family-run company founded on product expansion and development, Bobrick is overwhelmed with a sense of pride and achievement as we celebrate our centennial year," said Mark Louchheim, president, Bobrick Washroom Equipment, Inc. "We have made tremendous strides in the development and production of the best washroom accessories that truly touch the lives of nearly every human being in such a way that allows us to continue our advancement as a company," he added.

Clifton Park Chamber of Commerce President Joseph W. Dalton, Jr., congratulated Bobrick on its historic anniversary by stating, "The company's generous support of local non-profit agencies has allowed this community to improve its quality of life for all residents and Bobrick's leadership over the decades once again proves that American made products can still be the finest in the world."

Bobrick's ongoing success as a company can be attributed to its talented and loyal workforce who continues to embrace the company's fundamental core values: do the right thing by always conducting business honestly, ethically and responsibly; offer the best value by providing the best products and services to meet each customer's needs; treating each employee with dignity and as an individual and helping them achieve their professional potential; and continuing to improve everything the company does.

Many of Bobrick's talented and skilled individuals make up the employee family whose enthusiasm and dedication have helped the company progress from the very first 10-person operation to its present status today of 81 sales, production, inventory control, shipping, purchasing, human resource and finance professionals. On an ongoing basis, Bobrick remains loyal to its local community by reaching out through partnerships, organizations and community outreach sponsorships. Additionally, the division has been recognized for its exceptional safety record by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The High Technology of Rochester chapter awarded Bobrick with a distinction for outstanding achievements in Lean Manufacturing principles.

The Bobrick family of products includes Contura(TM) Series stainless steel washroom accessories with distinctive arc design, Eclipse(TM) warm air hand dryers, SureFlo(TM) Soap Dispensing Systems and Hand Soaps, Sierra(TM) Series non-ghosting graffiti removal and scratch resistant toilet partitions and Koala Kare(TM) child accommodation products. Celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2006, Bobrick continues to produce new designs and dimensions for the modern washroom with an initiative to be the No. 1 manufacturer of toilet partitions in North America.