AFCO Steel celebrates 100 years

Founded in 1909, AFCO Steel, a structural steel fabricator based in Little Rock, Ark., celebrated its 100-year anniversary on June 9.

Arkansas Foundry Co., as it was originally named, was founded by Mr. Fred I. Brown and four partners who began a gray iron foundry business. Initially, work was with sawmills, oil mills and compresses, and the foundry produced sash weights, sawdust grates, boiler fronts, stove fronts and arch bars.

In 1918, the partners purchased Thomas Fordyce Machinery Co., and more emphasis was placed on structural and reinforcing steel.

By 1940, Mr. Fred I. Brown bought out his partners.

A building material department was added, and butane tanks reached production-line status. Expansion of local industry and influx of new phases of the aluminum, petroleum and power industries provided continued growth.

Over the next 30-plus years, the Arkansas Foundry Company narrowed its niche to fabricated structural steel. In 1983, the company’s name was officially changed to AFCO Steel.

In addition to the Little Rock location, AFCO Steel has fabrication facilities in Van Buren, Ark., and Greeley, Colo., employing approximately 550 employees.

In 2002, AFCO was purchased by W & W Steel, a privately owned steel fabricator headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla.