The HSC Industrial Story
Tom Hughes founded Hughes Supply Company (HSC) in 1985 with one full time employee. At that time the company was based in Pax, WV, and operated in a building Tom's grandfather constructed in 1915. In the beginning, HSC made sales calls to coal mines, sold and repaired mine related electrical components, and performed general electrical repairs.Eventually, the company evolved to employ electronics technicians and provide additional services such as repairing ground fault monitors and other electronic devices. By 1991 HSC was a full-line distributor for several electrical manufacturers; however HSC's true niche was in selling and repairing circuit breakers.
In 2001, HSC's Communications division further evolved by developing an underground communications service crew. This enabled HSC to become the only licensed West Virginia Mine Health and Safety contractor in the state for underground communications. That same year, the company also became an authorized dealer for Kenwood Corporation and began providing two-way radio sales and service. Over the years HSC's Communications division has grown from selling mining phones and providing electrical repairs to providing integrated communications products, services, and customized solutions for the healthcare, education, and public safety arenas, as well as various industrial accounts.
By 2006, HSC had outgrown its Pax office and moved to its new headquarters in Beckley. The following two years ushered in the acquisition of two additional Beckley-based companies. The first, Industrial Electric Corporation (founded by John Rinehart) provided electrical engineering services. This created HSC's Electrical division and Hughes Supply Company began operating as HSC Industrial. New electrical services included: engineering, contracting, estimating, installation services, product sales, and electrical repairs. The second company purchased in 2008 was Air Tech Tools which formed HSC's Industrial Tools division. This new division made HSC an official distributor and factory authorized repair facility for various tool manufacturers (Ingersoll Rand, Stanley Bostitch, Ryobi, DeWalt, etc.).
By 2008, the decision was made to further extend the territory HSC served. August 2008 HSC's first Teays Valley office opened and began providing integrated communications sales and services throughout the tri-state area (WV, OH, PA, VA, KY). Business growth soon forced HSC to expand again, so in November 2010 they opened the doors to its second Teays Valley office. The new Suite 3 offices became home to HSC's Teays Valley energy management and business development group. The Energy Management group focuses on the control and monitoring of energy saving equipment and systems to reduce energy consumption and provide energy savings strategies.
The summer of 2011 a decision was made to merge the two Teays Valley offices to provide improved office coverage. Therefore June 2011 the Communications Sales & Service division moved into the Teays Valley Road Suite 3 office with the HSC Building Automation & Controls division. In their new location the Communications Sales & Service division continues to provide reliable communications products and trusted support services for first response, emergency, homeland security, mining, and industrial needs.
Over the past 20+ years HSC Industrial has grown divisions, staffing, territories and has expanded products and services; however, the company has never lost sight of the mission it was founded on, "To serve customers with the best products and services available."