Our Mission
Utilizing our expertise in composite products to provide the absolute best value as measured by quality, cost, delivery and innovation.
Our History
Shakespeare's first innovation in the composite light pole business was to originate the composite light pole. Building logically on the fiberglass reinforced composites technologies developed for other products, the company's engineers scaled the manufacturing processes up to create a strong, durable light pole that has revolutionized the lighting standard industry.
Over the years, our continued innovation has developed proprietary and custom formulated resins, coatings and assembly techniques (for example, on Breakaway poles), to achieve unmatched quality and durability.
Today, many hundreds of thousands of our composite poles stand tall from coast to coast in every conceivable application, weathering every storm, every season. Impervious to the elements, our fiberglass retains its lustrous beauty for generations, and its strength never wears out or tires. Our poles are built to bear heavy loads and stand stubbornly in the strongest winds - and look great doing it.
1960s
1967: First composite light pole installation.
1970s
1974: First composite light pole filament winding machine - direct burial.
1978: First full surface filament winding machine.
1979: First anchor base fiberglass composite poles.
1980s
1980: First smooth surface fiberglass poles.
1986: First light pole arms.
1987: First full surface filament winding machine for poles up to 47 feet.
1989: First breakaway composite light poles.
1990s
1991: First CAD/CAM computer controlled filament winding machine.
1992: First historical reproduction composite light poles and pultrusion of 5 x 5" straight square composite light poles.
1993: First composite distribution poles.
1995: First composite transmission poles up to 70 feet.
1996 First installation of transmission poles.
1997: First Tuff-Pole® programmed process.
1998: First composite sports lighting poles.
1999: First fiberglass composite hinged poles.
2000s
2000: First composite burial foot.
2003: First affordable TL-2 full-scale tested Energy Absorbing Pole.
2007: First fiberglass composite poles to 125 feet.
2009: First fiberglass composite poles to 130 feet and non-conductive composite SafeFence™ Systems (originally named, AcoustaWall™).
2010s
2010: First sound-absorptive, non-conductive composite SafeFence™ Systems (originally named, AcoustaWall™).
2014: Acquired by Valmont Industries, Inc.