Historical Background ACS Industries, Inc., previously known as American Coupler Systems, was incorporated in Ravenna, Ohio, and, has been in continuous operation since it's founding in 1968. The company's original scope of operations was limited to sales and engineering functions only with the ultimate goal of successfully selling a proprietary wheel loader coupler system and a limited line of attachments. Early activities can only be described as missionary in nature, and, while the company somewhat succeeded in selling it's products, business was not sufficient enough to allow the company to be profitable. Present management assumed operational control of the company in September of 1974 with the goal of moving the company to profitability and establishing the company's presence in the marketplace. Through conscientious management, and, with the help of favorable markets, ACS turned profitable for the first time in 1976 and has remained profitable each succeeding year since then. In 1977 the company commenced manufacturing operations in rented space in Kent, Ohio. Business and profitability both accelerated, and, in 1979 the company built and opened a new factory also in Kent, Ohio. Continuing it's growth, in 1981 ACS made it's first acquisition of Asbury Industries, a high quality specialty bucket manufacturer in Bridgeville, Pa. Subsequently, all of Asbury's operations were moved to Kent, Ohio. In 1983, the company doubled the size of the factory. In 1986 the factory was expanded by 35% and the office doubled. And finally in 1996, and again in 2005 ,the office and factory was enlarged to it's present size of 100,000 square feet. It has always been the long term goal of ACS to expand its product line through internal growth and acquisitions. With that in mind, in 1989, ACS purchased Sabine Metal and Machine of Houston, Texas, a highly regarded manufacturer of excavator buckets and rippers for dozers. Manufacturing continued in Houston until 1992 when the factory was sold and all operations moved to Kent. Seeking to become the first, independent national competitor in the construction attachment industry, in mid 1999 ACS purchased Mann Corporation and Progressive Attachments Corporation in Seattle, Washington to broaden it's product offering further and establish a base of operations on the west coast. In 2001 the company, which is known as ACS Northwest, built and occupied a new office and manufacturing complex in Arlington, Washington, just north of Seattle. Today, ACS Industries is firmly entrenched as the national, independent leader in the construction attachment industry. It has enjoyed many firsts, not the least of which was the introduction of attachment changeover technology to the construction equipment industry. This innovation as well as the introduction of the first single point, self aligning wheel loader coupler system and the first front locking excavator coupler system has kept ACS at the forefront of the construction attachment industry in providing innovation and value to its customers. With two full service east and west coast locations, products preferred by most professionals, a strong balance sheet and a culture of achievement as its operating cornerstones, ACS is poised to continue its growth and market dominance into the future. ACS Industries is firmly entrenched today as the market leader. It has earned that reputation with exemplary service and the best construction attachments in the world.