Arctic Oil & Gas Directory: Haws providing solutions for more than 100 years

Delivering highest-quality water and emergency equipment in challenging and remote locations

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

A. A common question is what products do we offer and how the company got started. A lot of people are surprised to find out how big or small we are and how long we have been in business.

Q. Where is your company located?

A. Our headquarters are in Sparks, Nevada and we have offices in Singapore, Brazil and Switzerland.

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

A. 1906 by Luther Haws and we are still family owned and managed. Luther Haws invented and patented the first drinking fountain in Berkeley, California for the Berkeley School District. He continued to operate the company for several years and his grandson and great-grandchildren are still on the Board of Directors and work with the day to day operations.

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

A. Water delivery systems, emergency products and solutions.

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

A. We recently launched an expanded capability, Haws Integrated, which offers large-scale tempering water safety solutions.

Q. How many employees does your company have?

A. Worldwide approximately 150-200, full-time, part-time and temps.

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

A. We are growing and expanding our reach in all of our locations.

Q. Is the company changing any of its services?

A. The Haws Integrated team has expanded our original tempered water service offering. Our engineers offer custom safety systems that address unique site requirements. We design, build, execute and manage the emergency water systems from the start of the project plan through continuous compliance.

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

A. Because we have been in business for more than 100 years, we have learned a lot and are able to provide truly customized product options. We have great customer service and sales teams who provide excellent service. In addition, our products are known for their quality. We take pride in our name and everything that goes out of the building has been carefully built and thoroughly tested to make sure it deserves to wear the Haws names. We may not be the most inexpensive, but all our customers know that Haws products are a great value.

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

A. The great thing about our product offering is they are useful for so many market verticals and customers. We thrive on the challenge new industries present and are being exposed to new projects daily.

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

A. With our Haws Integrated team we are required to engineer very large tempered water emergency shower/eyeface wash systems. The locations where these units are installed amaze us every day. Some locations have no water, some are in freezing temperatures, some are in desert temperatures, some are the middle of the ocean, some require the use of steam. Every large project has some sort of interesting challenge to engineer a solution for.

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

A. Every business has the same obstacle – deadlines! Another big obstacle is the limitations a site might have for one of our products. It’s an obstacle, but we have very smart engineers and they generally are able to find a solution.

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

A. Because we have been around for so long it is hard to not get trapped in the box of “that’s how it has always been done”. We appreciate innovation and creativity. It is important that Haws doesn’t settle.

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

A. Every year we are thankful that we can celebrate another successful year in business but in 2017 will be our 110th anniversary. Given the challenges other companies have faced, we will definitely be celebrating!

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

A. We are very fortunate to have a lot of great employees, and a lot of great long-term employees. We have several employees that have been with us since they turned 18 or graduated college and have never had to create a resume. They are a great information source for all the new people. A rough estimate is 10-15 years. Haws respects and values our employees. It shows by their commitment back to the company.

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

A. Being a safety company, we take safety very seriously. We have committees and staff who focus on safety and we have a very good safety record. We have a lot of resources to make sure employees are wearing the right equipment, following the correct safety procedures, and have access to appropriate response tools.

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

A. Reno/Sparks is a small community in Northern Nevada and we ask our employees to vote on which organizations they want us to put time and money into. Haws is involved in various local charities and our regional rep offices are as well. Haws supports the American Heart Association, the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Reno Veterans House, the local ALS chapter, St. Vincent’s Food Pantry, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Northern Nevada Humane Society and various events including Edible Pedal Bike Ride, annual Heart Walk, and East Bay Bicycle Coalition.

Q. Does your company have a website?

A. We have several to serve our various brands but everything can be found at www.Hawsco.com.