Company History

Standex Air Distribution Products has become the national market leader through a century of growth and expansion across the United States. Standex Air Distribution Products has grown through acquisition of three market-leading brand names over the past 30 years: Snappy, Acme, and Alco.

Snappy was incorporated in 1955 and began production in a small facility in Detroit Lakes, MN. By 1957 they purchased forty acres of property on the south edge of the city and began construction of a new factory. The Snappy brand name continued to grow and expand their market geographically. In 1974 they acquired a small manufacturer in Wisconsin and another manufacturer in Ohio during 1975. These facilities were ultimately closed as the main factory in Minnesota improved their manufacturing and transportation techniques. The Snappy brand name was purchased by Standex International in 1977, changing the division name to Standex Energy Systems.

In 1986, Snappy moved to a much larger, modern factory in the industrial park in Detroit Lakes, MN. A Colorado based pipe and fitting manufacturer was acquired in 1988 as the Snappy brand name continued its market expansion. In 1994, Snappy was designated a Standex, stand alone, division and renamed Standex Air Distribution Products (SADP). Another manufacturer was acquired in Oregon in 1995, completing Snappy's westward growth. Snappy serves a broad geographical market from the Mid-West to the West coast.

Acme Manufacturing became a part of the Standex ADP group in 1997. The Philadelphia division started in the late 1920’s as Acme Tin Plate & Supply run by the Cohn family. In the early 1950’s Acme Manufacturing Company was started, servicing the New England and Mid Atlantic States manufacturing a diversified line of residential and light commercial galvanized duct, pipe and fittings.

The Medina branch started manufacturing in the early 1900’s under the name Acer & Whedon, Inc. They made furnace pipe through 1979, when the business became part of Acme Manufacturing. The Medina factory serves customers from West Virginia to upstate New York and New England.

The Acme plant in Bartonville, IL started as the F.W. Meyer Furnace Company in Peoria during the 1920’s. They began producing sheet metal fittings after World War 2. The company was acquired by Acme Manufacturing in 1977. Acme moved into a new plant in Bartonville outside Peoria in 1993. The Bartonville facility serves customers in a 12 state region in the Midwest.

Alco Manufacturing also became a part of the Standex ADP group in 1997.

Alco was started in the mid 1960’s in Atlanta, GA as a partnership between Arnold Anderson and Dave Long. The partnership formed as Anderson-Long Company, later shortened to Alco. In the late 60’s manufacturing operations were moved to Douglasville, GA and new facilities were built in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Texas. In the mid-70’s Alco was sold to Modern Diversified. After a short period Alco was sold to Rachel-Horton Industries of Memphis in the late 70’s. Under Rachel’s ownership the company expanded manufacturing operations into North Carolina.

Alco was acquired by Acme in 1989. The Georgia facility moved from the original 35,000 sq. ft. facility in Douglasville, GA to its current 85,000 sq. ft facility in Powder Springs, GA in 1998. The North Carolina facility was consolidated into the Georgia facility in 2003.

Alco Manufacturing serves customers in the Southeast, from Texas to the Carolinas.