Oliver Sprinkler Co. to expand alarm division

KING OF PRUSSIA, Penn.-- Founded in 1957 by the grandfather of current president, David Oliver, Oliver Sprinkler Company has grown from a seven-person operation to one pulling in $30 million in yearly revenues and employing 150. This year, the company is looking for more growth from its new alarm division. Oliver designs, fabricates, installs, inspects and maintains fire protection and alarm systems in new and existing buildings. It's completed work at notable venues such as the Philadelphia Zoo, Princeton University and "Lucy the Elephant" a walk-in structure that looks like an elephant in Margate, N.J. "We're the people they call when it's a job no one else wants to do," said Brian Dixon, sales representative for Oliver Sprinkler Company. The new division, Oliver Alarm Systems, was started by family member Russ Walters in 2003. It's grown from $640 in revenue in its first month to a projected $2.3 million in 2006, Walters said. "We promote ourselves as a low voltage installer and distributor; 70 percent of our work is fire alarm, but we also do CCTV, access control, security systems," Walters said. His division's work is 90 percent commercial. In 2006, Walters wants to cultivate partnerships with electricians who frequently bring the company into new jobs. He'll also continue to work with existing sprinkler customers.The fact that Oliver Sprinkler Systems has working relationships going back decades with commercial customers all over Pennsylvania and New Jersey gives Oliver Alarm Systems a leg up on alarm competitors, Walters said. David Oliver said the company is looking to extend geographically into the Northeast. "Our goal is to be the ultimate service provider that can handle any situation," he said. "That's one of the reasons we went into the alarm business. It's complementary to our sprinkler business and our customers were requesting it."