Not many companies can make that claim. Founded in 1895, Garland has withstood the test of time to become a worldwide leader in the commercial building industry
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1895
Samuel D. Wise loans his younger brother, Jacob B. Wise, $100 to purchase Garland Refining Company.
1914
The company name is changed under Ohio law to The Garland Company, Inc.®
1917
Jacob Wise’s patent for roofing compositions is approved by the U.S. Patent Office, launching Garland’s history of innovation.
1919
Garland purchases large plant and warehouse property at 3800 East 91st Street in Cleveland, Ohio, which remains the company headquarters today.
1932
Plant operations are unionized, making Garland one of the earliest – if not the first – manufacturers of industrial paints to run a union shop.
1945
The Garland Company celebrates its 50th anniversary.
1967
V.L. Wise resigns. Brothers John T. Wise and Edward F. Wise split the company.
1974
On May 1, Mel Chrostowski, Dick Olivier and Doug Raynow enter into agreement to purchase The Garland Company. Their leadership marks the beginning of a new era for Garland. By year’s end, they are joined by Dick DeBacco, Perry Demming, Bill Oley and Elmer Soliday, forming a solid group of visionaries to take Garland to the next level.
1980
Garland formally introduces StressPly®, the first high-performance modified bitumen roofing system manufactured in North America.
1985
Garland initiates employee ownership through the ESOP program.
1987
Garland Canada Inc.® is formed with headquarters in Toronto, Canada.
1987
Dick DeBacco assumes presidency of Garland after John T. Wise retires.
1988
GMX, Inc.®, a manufacturer and supplier of waterproofing and dampproofing products for the building envelope, is created as a wholly-owned subsidiary headquartered in Cleveland.
1990
Garland forges a joint venture with ImageWorks, Inc., a Cleveland advertising firm, to expand public relations and marketing capabilities within the company. ImageWorks remains today as Garland’s in-house marketing department.
1992
The Energizer rubberized liquid membrane for roof restoration is introduced.
1994
Garland becomes the first in the U.S. commercial roofing industry to achieve ISO 9002 certification.
1994
Garland obtains full ownership of Innovative Metals Company, Inc.® (IMETCO), headquartered in Tucker, Georgia, adding to our capabilities high-quality manufacturing operations for structural and architectural standing seam metal systems.
1995
The Garland Company celebrates 100 years of continuing growth and success.
1995
Garland is among the first roofing companies in North America to embrace green technologies, introducing the first green roofing system.
1996
Garland introduces Roof Asset Management Program® (RAMP), the industry's most comprehensive software for tracking and managing building assets.
1996
Commercial Innovations, Inc.®, a supplier of a wide range of high-performance roofing products for contractors and distribution networks, is formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Garland Industries.
1998
Garland ISO 9001 certification for research and development begins.
1999
A new business, V2 Composites, Inc.® is launched in Auburn, Alabama to ensure a continuous supply of scrims and to support product and industry diversification.
2000
Garland inaugurates “The Healy,” a new, state-of-the-art product line for roll good products, restructuring and expanding our warehouse around these new capabilities and increasing our total production, warehousing, research and office space in Cleveland to more than 100,000 square feet.d Company celebrates 100 years of continuing growth and success.
2000
Garland is recognized by NorthCoast 99 as one of the best places to work in Northeast Ohio.
2001
The Garland Company UK, LTD® is formed in Gloucester, England to expand Garland distribution in Europe.
2001
Today, Garland’s corporate training center for new salesmen is named the Soliday Center, in honor of Elmer Soliday, one of Garland’s first salesmen and trainers.
2001
Garland introduces the R-Mer Edge product family to protect the roof’s perimeter.
2001
Design-Build Solutions, Inc.® (DBS) is formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary headquartered in Cleveland, to give owners an alternative construction delivery system.
2003
ISO 9001:2000 certification is achieved.
2004
Dave Sokol, who joined Garland in 1990 and served in various capacities from advertising and marketing manager to vice president of operations, assumes Garland Industries presidency.
2004
Garland becomes 100 percent employee owned through ESOP.
2006
Garland acquires a roll goods manufacturer to expand production capabilities.
2008
Garland launches the Garland Greenhouse®, branding our sustainable product line and services.
2009
Garland achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification, assuring customers of our ongoing commitment to continuous quality improvement.
2009
Garland is one of only five regional employers to be honored with the NorthCoast 99 Legacy Award, which is reserved for organizations that have won the NorthCoast 99 award from the Employers Resource Council (ERC) for 10 years.
2009
Garland launches a dynamic new product category, the Dura-Walk® plaza deck system for roofing areas that are to be used for walkways, decking, or vehicular traffic.
2010
Garland adds StressPly® E (Environmental) membranes that feature selected reinforcements, a unique rubber-modified asphalt and surfacing that contain 8% post-consumer recycled content, 27% pre-consumer recycled content and 2.5% rapidly renewable content.
2010
Garland expands its national manufacturing capabilities by acquiring polymer coatings manufacturer, Urethane Polymers International, Inc.™, allowing for the in-house manufacturing of all Garland elastomeric, white roof coatings.
2011
Garland becomes the first roofing manufacturer to have its modified membranes certified by UL Environment, the leading environmental claims accreditation body, for both recycled and bio-based content.
2011
Garland begins manufacturing coal tar-based Millennium® at its Cleveland, Ohio, manufacturing facility.
2012
Garland begins manufacturing all reflective materials at its West Coast manufacturing facility.
2012
Garland acquires DryDog Barriers, LLC and integrates it into GMX, Inc.®, expanding the company’s line of commercial and residential below-grade waterproofing solutions.
2013
Garland acquires a leading plastics manufacturer located in Mt. Airy, North Carolina.
2013
Garland acquires a manufacturer and distributor of heavy-duty temporary floor protection with headquarters in Burbank, California.
2013
Garland acquires alloy manufacturer in the large equipment and oil and gas drilling industries.
2014
Garland acquires two companies in the surface protection industry.
2014
Garland receives the Employers Resource Council (ERC) NorthCoast 99 award for the fifteenth consecutive year as one of the best places to work in Northeast Ohio.
2015
Garland introduces OptiMax®, the world’s first and only thermoset polyurethane-modified membrane designed to retain its resiliency, making it the longest lasting roof system in the commercial roofing market.
2015
Garland introduces R-Mer Shield, an innovative standing seam roof system designed to provide unrivaled strength, durability and waterproofing protection.
2016
Garland introduces KEE-Stone® FB 60, a 60 mil, fleece-backed, thermoplastic membrane modified with DuPont’s™ Elvaloy® HP KEE material and reinforced with a high tensile strength polyester scrim, making it the longest lasting and most durable membrane of its kind in the industry.
2016
During its seventh annual Spirit Week, Garland employees raise more than $80,000 for Ohio Cancer Research in honor of several Garland family members battling the disease.
2017
R-Mer Force, Garland's patent-pending innovative flashless edge metal, is introduced offering unmatched protection for roof perimeters all while saving building owners time and money.
2017
Garland is honored with the Smart Business Longevity Award, recognizing 122 years in business in Cleveland.
2017
Garland is recognized as a NorthCoast 99 best workplace in Northeast Ohio - our eighteenth consecutive recognition!
2018
Garland introduces the CLEAR™ (Comprehensive Laboratory Effective Analysis Reporting) program operated by Garland’s R&D team to test and evaluate roof core samples to answer questions about the system type or identify the source of performance issues.
2018
Garland acquires a leading company specializing in surface, job site and personal protection products.
2018
Garland is recognized as a NorthCoast 99 best workplace in Northeast Ohio for the nineteenth consecutive year.
2018
Pyramic® Plus LO, a water-based reflective coating, is introduced. This new coating smells no stronger than standard house paint, is formulated with urethane chemistry for strength, and includes a biocide package to minimize the growth of mold and fungus on the surface of the coating.
2018
Garland grows its metal product offerings by acquiring a manufacturer of top quality metal roof systems, wall, fascia and soffit profiles, perimeter edge metals and component accessories.
2018
Garland is recertified under the ISO 9001:2015 standard.
2018
Garland is named a 2018 Medical Mutual Pillar Award for Community Service Honoree for its contributions to various regional and national non-profit organizations through its annual Spirit Week tradition.
