This article was published in the June 2019 edition of NTEA News.
NTEA recently crossed paths with A&H Equipment Co., a distributor member headquartered in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. Chester Amick and Roy Holsinger started the company — which was originally based in Carnegie, Pennsylvania — in 1963 and sold municipal products from Elgin Sweeper Co. (street sweepers), Leach (refuse bodies), Huber Manufacturing Co. (graders) and Good Roads (plows and spreaders). Product line changes occurred over the years, yet A&H still represents Elgin Sweeper. After Holsinger passed away in 1967, the business moved to its current headquarters.
A&H spent most of its 56 years selling municipal and refuse equipment. It has been a dominant provider of street sweepers, sewer cleaners, pipe inspection equipment, and other large products. The organization explored the dump and snow and ice business in the mid-2000s as a way to expand its product and revenue base for municipal customers. In addition, the business benefited from the 2010 oil drilling and fracking boom affecting Pennsylvania. These industries require much of the environmental equipment A&H provides, through purchase or rental agreements. Dump bodies are now a product offered to both municipal and non-municipal customers.
Following Amick’s passing in 1981, his wife Grace became CEO and maintained her involvement in the organization until her death in 2009. Amick’s son Tripp joined the business full time in 1979 after graduating from Penn State. He was named company president in 1986. Jason Kelley was named vice president-sales in 2010 and purchased an interest in the company.
Through a 2003 acquisition, A&H expanded into central Pennsylvania with a 15,000 square-foot facility in Harrisburg. The company later entered the dump body business as a distributor. Soon after, leadership decided to expand upfitting capabilities and leased a small building in Meyersdale. Steady growth resulted in facility changes. Most recently, A&H opened a 40,000 square-foot site in Somerset, home to A&H Bodies.
A&H Equipment’s 14-foot, custom aluminum body with double-acting trunnion-mounted hoist, aluminum side panels, panel tarp, UTG SS spreader, plow hitch and central hydraulics, and stainless steel toolbox. Learn more at ahequipment.com.
Customer retention is core to the business’ success and philosophy. Ample time is spent with customers to ensure satisfaction with the entire company. A&H conducts third-party surveys of parts and unit sales customers, and all service work includes in-person follow-up for all service work performed.
A&H has been an NTEA member for over 20 years, since 1997. For more details, visit ahequipment.com, call 412-257-1160 or stop by 1124 McLaughlin Run Rd. in Bridgeville.