Buckeye – 50 years of growth

50 years ago, it was an interesting time in the fire protection industry. Halon 1301 was becoming the agent of choice in clean agent fire protection, Halon 1211 was regarded as the best portable fire extinguisher clean agent, and AFFF was beginning to become the choice for firefighting in the oil and gas markets. At this same time in Cleveland, Ohio, Thomas Bower reviewed the current landscape of the fire protection equipment manufacturers and decided that it was time for a new Company to enter the market, founded on quality, fast delivery, and value to the customer.

In 1975, Tom Bower decided that in order to attract a highly skilled workforce and to be in a better location to service his growing customer base, and to continue the growth in product offerings and customers, he relocated the Company from Cleveland to Kings Mountain, North Carolina, near the growing city of Charlotte.

Fast forward to today, and Buckeye is now an ISO 9001 certified Company, that offers customers around the globe a complete line of handheld and wheeled fire extinguishers, extinguishing agents, fire suppressing foam concentrates & hardware and pre-engineered kitchen suppression systems. Buckeye has developed from a small family owned business and has rapidly grown into a fire protection manufacturing business supporting hundreds of employees and their families, while maintaining its roots as a family business.

Kevin Bower has taken over the reigns as President of Buckeye Fire Equipment Company and is responsible for the growth in product offerings and plans for continued growth and new product development to enter new markets. All product are made in the USA, and will continue to be, as the Company believes in the continued support of the local community.

Buckeye manufactures a complete line of fire extinguishing equipment and firefighting agents. The array of products manufactured by Buckeye include all types of dry chemical fire extinguishers including sodium bicarbonate, ABC, and Purple K types, and clean agent fire extinguishers using carbon dioxide and Halotron I agents. These products are available in a complete range of sizes and fire extinguishing ratings, have global approval certifications to support their use, and are available in both hand-held portable units and wheeled configurations.

To address the requirements for high flowrates of dry chemicals and the need for survivability is the harshest of environments, Buckeye launched a line of high performing, heavy duty dry chemical fire extinguishers designed to survive in offshore use and other highly corrosive locations. These extinguishers meet the requirements of NFPA 10 for high flow extinguishers protecting risks involving pressurized flammable liquids, pressurized gas, or three dimensional fires.

To continue the growth of Buckeye, the Company launched a complete line of synthetic foam agents and application hardware, that serves customers in the petrochemical, oil, and gas industry sectors all around the World. The Company is dedicated to environmental stewardship, and as part of this commitment all firefighting foam agents are in full compliance with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s PFOS and PFOA Stewardship Programs. The complete line of foam hardware includes agent bladder tanks, balanced pressure pump skid units, eductors, monitors, foam chambers, foam makers, high expansion foam generators, foam carts and handline nozzles.

Recognizing the need for a cost effective, easy to install commercial kitchen fire suppression system, Buckeye developed a UL 300 Listed commercial cooking fire suppression system, which has shown significant growth both in the United States and around the World. No other system can be installed and serviced faster and easier than the Buckeye system. To supplement the commercial cooking suppression system, we also offer the wet chemical hand portable fire extinguishers, used in conjunction with the automatic suppression system.

Our most recently launched product line is a full range of commercial flame and hazardous and toxic gas sensors. This product line offers the best in early detection of hazardous gases, to safely notify employees in the affected area that there is a risk to theirs and their fellow employees safety. We have over 50 years of combined experience in gas and flame detection, system applications, sales, and service. Our products seamlessly operate within the industrial settings, with existing fire suppression systems. Our gas detection systems are designed to the strictest of standards and are available in either traditional hard wired or wireless transmission, or a combination of both. Some of the common applications and gases that we can detect include all types of flame detection including UV, UV/IR, triple IR, and all with HD video capability. For toxic and flammable gases, we offer rugged sensors for the detection of all types of gases, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, low oxygen, H₃, sulfur dioxide, HCL, HF, chlorine and chlorine dioxide, methane, propane, and other gases.

To ensure our distributors and customers get the highest quality fire protection equipment, all of our products undergo rigorous testing, both in-house and by third party testing organizations such as Underwriters Laboratories, U.L. Canada, ASME and the U.S. Government.

The fire protection industry continues to be faced with new fire suppression challenges, and the need for greater environmental awareness and protection, and new products must be developed and introduced to solve these new problems. These challenges can only be faced by a greater level and commitment to product research and development. These hazards include new power systems in the transportation industry, new methods to detect and transit hazardous gas warnings for employee safety, or more environmentally benign firefighting foam technologies. At Buckeye, the commitment to new product development and research is at record levels. It would be worth the effort to keep an eye on Buckeye in the coming months as this commitment to new products continues and new technologies become available.

For more information, go to www.buckeyefire.com