| Hadrian Through the Ages: Spanning the ages, there is a link that exists between the ancient Roman Empire and our modern world. That link is a name, and that name is "Hadrian". You may be wondering how this connection between past and present was established. Well, it all started about two thousand years ago… Caesar Traianus Hadrianus Augustus, known more commonly today as the Roman emperor Hadrian, was born on January 24th in the year 76 A.D. He was born into a family with very lofty connections, as his father was the cousin of the reigning Emperor Trajan. Throughout his childhood and into his young adult years, Hadrian was raised in a military and political lifestyle. He excelled in this environment and it prepared him for what was to come. Before his death, the ruling emperor Trajan, demonstrated his favor for Hadrian by adopting him and effectively choosing Hadrian as his successor. The new name of Publius Aelius Hadrianus was bestowed on Hadrian and he assumed the responsibility of emperor in 117 A.D. Forging a legacy of political, military, artistic, and architectural achievements, Hadrian would reign for 21 years, until his death in 138 A.D. Travel was a significant element of Hadrian's life. It was not uncommon to find him among the border troops throughout the far reaches of the empire. His presence at the outposts went a long way towards securing the loyalty of the troops. Indeed, throughout his reign, Hadrian spent more time traveling the Roman provinces than he did in Rome. From his travels, Hadrian drew much inspiration for his remarkable Villa in Tivoli. He also fostered a great interest and respect for art and architecture - especially that of Greek culture. This fascination with art and architecture motivated Hadrian in his campaign to restore many great buildings (including the Pantheon) to their original glory. In ruling the Empire, Hadrian did not follow the course of unbridled expansion as did his many predecessors. To a large extent, rather than emphasizing conquest, Hadrian focused on solidifying the current holdings of the Roman Empire. In fact, one of his most notable achievements - Hadrian's Wall - is a lasting testament to his efforts to defend against "barbarian" invasions. Hadrian authorized the construction of this impressive barrier in 122 A.D. With small forts positioned every Roman mile (1500 meters) and lookout turrets every third of a mile, the monumental wall took six years to build and extends for 117 kilometers (73 miles) across the northern frontier of Britain. Withstanding the ravages of time, Hadrian's Wall can still be visited today! This architectural marvel was the inspiration for Tom Warren and Keith McAlpine when they purchased the Toilet Partition Division of Westeel Corporation in 1983 and named their new company "Hadrian Manufacturing Inc". Under Tom and Keith's guidance, Hadrian Manufacturing Inc grew from a fledgling division of Westeel, to a well-respected industry shaper in the Toilet Partition world. During their ownership "reign" the company evolved significantly, moving from Oakville to Burlington, Ontario, adding a high quality locker line, opening a U.S. distribution facility in Mentor, Ohio, and generating interest in markets such as Latin America and the United Kingdom. With Tom and Keith's retirement and subsequent sale of the company in January of 2001, a new era began for Hadrian Manufacturing Inc. The transition to the new ownership group of James Peters, President, Gary Greenway, VP Operations, Mike Razem, VP Sales, and Rob Snyder, VP Finance, was seamless as they share the same principles and value systems on which Tom and Keith built the company. Under the new ownership, Hadrian has worked diligently to continue developing new markets while also focusing on solidifying and strengthening relationships with our existing customers. Just as our company's namesake invested time and energy into travel, Hadrian Manufacturing Inc recognizes the need to stay in close contact with our partners around the world. Through travel and utilization of the latest communication technology, we are committed to listening to our customers and addressing their concerns. In the tradition of innovative design exhibited by the emperor in such undertakings as Hadrian's Wall and the Villa at Tivoli, Hadrian Manufacturing Inc is dedicated to offering exciting, well-designed products. In recent years, Hadrian has introduced such innovations as the Elite and Elite Plus series of toilet partitions, which offer unmatched privacy. The Roman emperor Hadrian left an indelible mark on history through his legacy of enduring architectural achievement. In a similar vein, Hadrian Manufacturing Inc strives to offer creative, high quality, and durable products that will withstand the test of time. In doing so, we seek to forge enduring, mutually successful relationships with our highly valued customers and suppliers around the world… perhaps Publius Aelius Hadrianus, the great emperor himself, would be pleased with the modern day association. |