Barry Libman, owner and president, will remain with the business. Able Distributing will operate as a new region for Hajoca, with Libman serving as region manager and reporting to Rick Klau, president of Hajoca. Although Hajoca already has a presence in the Arizona and Nevada markets, the wholesaler is expected to operate the Able locations independently, consistent with its decentralized culture.
Able Distributing Co. was founded in 1960 as Able Plumbing and Heating Co. by Gerald and Lee Libman. The company started out with three plumbing and heating salesmen and an industrial supply salesman. In 1974, Barry and Michael Libman purchased the company from Lee Libman. The Able Technology Corp. subsidiary was formed in 1982 to specialize in sales of mechanical packing and seal products and pumps for the industry. Able Field Services was started in 1990 to provide in-plant contract maintenance services. In 1994 Able Field Services added its own facility to Able's Wausau plumbing warehouse where it offered industrial pump, valve and seal rebuilding capabilities. AFS began conducting training schools in 1995, in response to customers' requests.
Privately held Hajoca Corp. operated 250 locations and had a presence in every state except Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont, for fiscal 2004. It was ranked No. 4 in SUPPLY HOUSE TIMES' Premier 150 listing of wholesalers (May 2005) based on estimates of its 2004 sales.
