Arctic Directory: Totem Equipment & Supply number one for construction heater trailers

For more than 50 years Totem’s knowledgeable staff has been serving Alaska

Q. What do you most want people to know about your company?

A. We are problem solvers, offering the newest innovations available in the markets we serve.

Q. Where is your company located?

A. We have three branches, two in Anchorage, Alaska, and one in Wasilla, Alaska.

Q. What year was the company founded and by whom?

A. Totem Equipment & Supply was opened in Anchorage in 1961 and was founded by President and CEO Cliff Huston along with wife and business partner Allie Huston. Today, we continue under a management team headed by Vice President Mike Huston. We are proud to claim a second-generation success story with the third generation now also on board.

Q. What is the company’s primary business sector?

A. Sales, service, rentals and fabrication.

Q. Are there important projects the company is currently a part of or has done recently?

A. We are currently negotiating several large fabrication projects and a large heater trailer order to Sakhalin Island, Russia, was recently completed.

Q. How many employees does your company have?

A. We have 20 employees.

Q. Describe the equipment your company might use and are there any new purchases planned?

A. The innovative thinking at Totem has given birth to a full fabrication facility, manufacturer of the famous Totem 10 self-contained heater trailers. These units are manufactured right here in Alaska and have been popular internationally since the 1970s. New products include fully contained pressure washer trailers, dump trailers, light tower trailers and much more, with spring season inventory on its way.

Q. What types of products do you produce in your fabrication shop?

A. Our fabrication shop is the birthplace of our famous Totem 10 heater trailers and is world famous for its innovation and quality. We also fabricate other items such as pressure washer trailers and water tanks. Our products have been accepted with rave reviews from Russia to Iraq and from the North Slope of Alaska to Korea.

Q. Do you have any new equipment that has become available in recent months?

A. We introduced the new 5CDLT heater trailer in February; it’s the only true combination indirect fired heather and fully extendable light tower. The 500,000 Btu heater trailer has a 100 percent fuel containment, 28 hour fuel tank, removable and extendable light tower, with four 1,000 watt halide lights and generator. Additional features include highway towing capabilities, DOT light package, interior light, leveling jacks for all four corners and forklift pockets.

A. At Totem, we always service what we sell. We can locate those hard to find parts for your equipment. We are your factory authorized source for parts and service for over 100 of the top lines in the industry. Our motto is “if we can’t find it, it can’t be found”.

Q. Is your company expanding any of its operations or locations?

A. We are becoming more active in the designing and building our products.

Q. Is the company changing any of its services?

A. Totem Equipment continues to put emphasis on problem solving and providing a value to its customers.

Q. What is your company’s main strength or its edge over the competition?

A. Consistency and knowledge of the Alaska market and its special challenges.

Q. What new markets, clients or projects did your company attract in the last year?

A. Doing business with the new independent oil companies, developing the first heater light tower that is self contained.

Q. What is the most challenging job the company has undertaken?

A. Selling equipment to the Korean Air Force.

Q. What are the biggest obstacles to completing work the company undertakes?

A. Retaining goal oriented and motivated employees.

Q. What do you see as your company’s biggest challenge in the next five years?

A. Incorporating the government regulated health care and meeting deadlines in the oil fields due to those regulations.

Q. Does your company have an anniversary or other landmark event coming up?

A. We will be celebrating our 50th anniversary in 2011.

Q. What is the average length of time employee’s work for the company?

A. On average our employees are with us for 15 years.

Q. What is your company’s safety record? What steps does the company take to ensure a safe work environment?

A. Extremely good, we have regular safety meetings and a work environment with a culture of safety.

Q. Has your company been involved in any community projects or charities events?

A. We are a Ducks Unlimited sponsor, Youth Football sponsor and always donate needed equipment to any school athletic event.

Q. Does your company have a website?

A. www.toteminc.com