Published: December 08, 2008 08:57 pm

New owner saves Air-Tech along with 11 jobs in Beckley

By Fred Pace
Register-Herald reporter

When Air-Tech Tool Service said it would close its doors by the end of the year, the announcement caught many off guard.

“After 21 years in business it was sad to hear they were calling it quits,” said Tom Hughes, of Hughes Supply in Beckley. “I started thinking about a way to save the company.”

Hughes decided to purchase Air-Tech.

“I will be moving them into a Rural Acres Drive location in Beckley as soon as I get an addition built onto the building,” Hughes said.

He said at least 11 jobs will be saved.

“In this day of so many people losing their job, it feels good to be able to provide jobs,” said Hughes.

Hughes says he is also opening a new branch in Teays Valley.

“As I look ahead, I see the potential to create more jobs in 2009,” he said. “I will need two-way radio technicians, electricians, service techs and maintenance personnel.”

Air-Tech started in 1987 and grew to become one of the nation’s largest independent power tool repair service companies, regularly receiving work orders from across the country. At its peak, the company repaired over 1,000 tools per month. However, former owners said in recent years they saw new tool prices remain flat, while repair costs, labor and other expenses continued to rise.

Hughes Supply and one of his other companies, Tunnel Radio of America, recently had its miner tracking tag approved by the U.S. federal Mine Safety and Health Administration.

“Since we can install readers in our approved underground power insertion boxes, we now have a complete communications and tracking system,” said Hughes, owner of Hughes Supply, which is also located in Beckley. “We have already taken several orders for the system and anticipate more in the very near future.”

Hughes says his companies will hopefully have the opportunity to expand under a new president.

“If President Obama and Congress funds the states with infrastructure money for water and waste water projects and energy conservation requirements, HSC is in a good position to expand,” he explained. “This is possible because of my purchase on the first of this year of Industrial Electric. And of course our mining communications and tracking systems are still going strong.”

— E-mail: fpace@register-herald.com

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