Morgan Olson
Encyclopedia
Morgan Olson is a leading producer of aluminum walk-in vans. Morgan Olson was founded in 1946 on Long Island, New York, by Jimmy Olson, and is currently located in Sturgis, Michigan
. Previously owned by Northrop Grumman
, followed by a group of senior managers, Morgan Olson was purchased by JBPCO in 2003.
Morgan Olson’s leading competitor is Utilimaster Corporation
.
Morgan Olson customers include UPS
, FedEx
, USPS, Unifirst, Aramark
, G & K Services, Frito Lay and Bimbo Baking.
, and Workhorse Custom Chassis. The aluminum walk-in van has also been known as a “step van” and “multi-stop” van. The key features of the vehicle are the delivery efficiencies it provides the driver due to the full height cab and the low step heights, and its long service life. It is quite normal for a walk-in van to have a service life of over twenty years.
Service Parts – Morgan Olson provides service parts to a wide range of customers on a number of products. Aside from its current product, Morgan Olson provides service parts for its sister company, Morgan Corporation, as well as the United States Postal Service for its Long Life Vehicle (LLV).
Grumman had no experience building commercial truck bodies. However, they decided to move forward with the concept and Grumman Aircraft Engineering was scheduled to produce the vehicle beginning in 1939. The concept was shelved due to the onset of WWII.
After the war, Olson and three partners formulated J.B.E. Olson Corporation on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn. Construction of the aluminum vehicle began. For its public unveiling, Olson rented the ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City and invited Chevrolet dealers from all over the east coast. The vehicle was enthusiastically received and J.B.E. Olson received orders for 450 units, and the Grumman Olson aluminum walk-in van was born.
The company grew and prospered over the next many decades. The company purchased the Sturgis, MI facility, its current headquarters, in 1963.
In 1984, Grumman Olson was awarded the largest contract in its history. The United States Postal Service (USPS) awarded Grumman Olson a contract worth over one billion dollars. Over 150,000 vehicles were produced, of which the majority are in operation today.
After changes in ownership in the 1990’s, Grumman Olson was faced with a declining market, and eventually declared bankruptcy in 2001. The company was purchased by JBPCO, a parent company whose sales are nearly one billion annually, in 2003. At this time the name of the company was changed to Morgan Olson. Since the acquisition of Morgan Olson by JBPCO, it has seen steady, profitable growth until 2009.
Today, Morgan Olson produces walk in vans for notable companies such as UPS, FedEx, Frito Lay, AmeriPride, Lance Inc, W.B. Mason, Unifirst, G & K Services, and Bimbo Baking.
Sturgis, Michigan
Sturgis, is a city in St. Joseph County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 10,994 at the 2010 census. The city is located at the northeast corner of Sturgis Township and at the intersection of US 12 and M-66....
. Previously owned by Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company was the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2010, and the largest builder of naval vessels. Northrop Grumman employs over...
, followed by a group of senior managers, Morgan Olson was purchased by JBPCO in 2003.
Morgan Olson’s leading competitor is Utilimaster Corporation
Utilimaster Corporation
Utilimaster Corporation is the largest producer of walk-in vans , Parcel Delivery Vans and truck bodies. It was founded in 1973 in Wakarusa, Indiana. Previously owned by Holiday Rambler and then Harley-Davidson, it was bought by senior management along with an investment group led by Kirkland...
.
Morgan Olson customers include UPS
United Parcel Service
United Parcel Service, Inc. , typically referred to by the acronym UPS, is a package delivery company. Headquartered in Sandy Springs, Georgia, United States, UPS delivers more than 15 million packages a day to 6.1 million customers in more than 220 countries and territories around the...
, FedEx
FedEx
FedEx Corporation , originally known as FDX Corporation, is a logistics services company, based in the United States with headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee...
, USPS, Unifirst, Aramark
Aramark
Aramark Corporation, known commonly as Aramark, is an American foodservice, facilities, and clothing provider supplying businesses, educational institutions, sports facilities, federal and state prisons, and health care institutions. It is headquartered at the Aramark Tower in Center City,...
, G & K Services, Frito Lay and Bimbo Baking.
Products
Morgan Olson produces aluminum walk-in vans on strip chassis. The strip chassis are provided by three business partners; Freightliner Custom Chassis, Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
, and Workhorse Custom Chassis. The aluminum walk-in van has also been known as a “step van” and “multi-stop” van. The key features of the vehicle are the delivery efficiencies it provides the driver due to the full height cab and the low step heights, and its long service life. It is quite normal for a walk-in van to have a service life of over twenty years.
Service Parts – Morgan Olson provides service parts to a wide range of customers on a number of products. Aside from its current product, Morgan Olson provides service parts for its sister company, Morgan Corporation, as well as the United States Postal Service for its Long Life Vehicle (LLV).
History
The idea for the first aluminum walk-in van was originated by Walter Heingartner, owner of Kinney Motors Chevrolet in Brooklyn, NY. Heingartner was friends with Jimmy Olson, then Commissioner of the New York State Liquor Authority. Olson had no truck experience, but knowing there were ten independent laundry companies in Brooklyn alone, he saw a market. He knew an aluminum body would be lighter and less prone to corrosion. He also knew someone who could build it, Jack Swirbul, one of Grumman’s founders.Grumman had no experience building commercial truck bodies. However, they decided to move forward with the concept and Grumman Aircraft Engineering was scheduled to produce the vehicle beginning in 1939. The concept was shelved due to the onset of WWII.
After the war, Olson and three partners formulated J.B.E. Olson Corporation on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn. Construction of the aluminum vehicle began. For its public unveiling, Olson rented the ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City and invited Chevrolet dealers from all over the east coast. The vehicle was enthusiastically received and J.B.E. Olson received orders for 450 units, and the Grumman Olson aluminum walk-in van was born.
The company grew and prospered over the next many decades. The company purchased the Sturgis, MI facility, its current headquarters, in 1963.
In 1984, Grumman Olson was awarded the largest contract in its history. The United States Postal Service (USPS) awarded Grumman Olson a contract worth over one billion dollars. Over 150,000 vehicles were produced, of which the majority are in operation today.
After changes in ownership in the 1990’s, Grumman Olson was faced with a declining market, and eventually declared bankruptcy in 2001. The company was purchased by JBPCO, a parent company whose sales are nearly one billion annually, in 2003. At this time the name of the company was changed to Morgan Olson. Since the acquisition of Morgan Olson by JBPCO, it has seen steady, profitable growth until 2009.
Today, Morgan Olson produces walk in vans for notable companies such as UPS, FedEx, Frito Lay, AmeriPride, Lance Inc, W.B. Mason, Unifirst, G & K Services, and Bimbo Baking.
Senior Management
| President and COO | Mike Ownbey |
| Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | Greg Pairitz |
| Vice President of Operations | David Halladay |
| Vice President of Engineering | Robert Burnham, P.E. |
| Vice President of Sales & Marketing | Steve Miller Steve Miller Steve or Steven Miller may refer to:*Steve Miller , President and CEO of the Professional Bowlers Association*Steve Miller , CEO of Delphi Corporation*Steven L... |
| Director of Materials | Dan Rupert |
| Director of Human Resources | Stephen Hart Stephen Hart Stephen Hart may refer to:* Stephen Hart , Australian Anglican bishop* Stephen Hart , Canadian soccer coach* Stephen R... |