Shakespeare Composite Structures™ and JHBaxter Form Marketing Alliance

Contact:

Bill Griffin
803.276.5504
800.800.9008
Fax: 803.276.8940
Decorative Poles

For immediate release

Shakespeare Composite Structures™ and JHBaxter Form Marketing Alliance for Composite Utility Tuff-Poles®

Shakespeare Composite Structures™ and JHBaxter, a wood preserving company, have formed an exclusive marketing alliance covering nine western U.S. states. The agreement provides improved distribution and stocking of Shakespeare Composite Strucutres' composite utility Tuff-Poles®.

While several key investor owned utilities in the western region are buying the poles direct, smaller volume users will benefit from strategic stock locations provided by JHBaxter and the option to combine composite and conventional wood poles for freight optimization.

"This agreement is innovative and unique for our industry," said a company spokesperson. "We have reacted to the needs of a changing marketplace by providing improved distribution and adding value through the abilities of JHBaxter."

"This combination of Shakespeare Composite Structures' technologically superior Tuff-Pole® with JHBaxter's strength in wood pole production and distribution will allow customers to choose the best pole alternative and simplify the buying process," said Sandra Lavino, vice-president/marketing for JHBaxter. "This agreement will lower the total delivered cost for composite poles using our stocking network. Although Shakespeare Composite Structures pays the freight for truckload quantities of their poles, the cost of ordering fewer poles has not been as competitive. Our customers will now be able to combine both wood and composite poles shipments to their best advantage."

Tuff-Poles® continue to be represented by:

Power Equipment Specialists - for Colorado and Wyoming

D'Ewart Sales - for Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, and Alaska

Young & Co. - for California and northern Nevada

Young Power Equipment - for Arizona, New Mexico, and southern Nevada.

Customers can now choose from local stock through JHBaxter or factory-direct full truckloads.

"JHBaxter prides itself in exceeding the needs of its customers," Lavino said," and we see a growing demand for the lightweight composite pole. It's a quality product with special applications that complement the use of wood poles. We are excited to be able to offer our customers both wood and composites from one source. It will simplify their buying process, expedite delivery, and reduce transportation costs."

The company will begin stocking in both their Eugene, Oregon, and Long Beach, California, locations. Selections will include Class 3, 4, 5, and 6 in heights of 35, 40, and 45 feet. JHBaxter will provide drilling at each stocking location per customers' specifications for framing. Climbing hardware can also be installed by JHBaxter.

Shakespeare Composite Structures™ manufactures composite utility poles in heights from 25 to 70 feet. Poles not locally stocked are still available through JHBaxter with a six- to seven-week lead time for manufacture and shipping.

"Our new Tuff-Pole® technology now provides the lowest cost composite utility pole on the market, and definitely the most durable," The spokesperson said. "We're certain this agreement will make our TuffPoles® even more cost effective."

Tuff-Poles® are a perfect fit for environmentally sensitive conditions like extreme moisture, salt, cold, acid soils, or woodpecker areas. At only one-third the weight of wood, composite poles can easily be cost justified in hard to reach areas such as back yards and mountainous terrain. Being non-conductive, they're also an excellent choice for pole replacement in ‘hot' line conditions. Their benefits, especially their much longer life, more than offset a slightly higher initial cost.

Now a division of GenlyteThomas Group (Louisville, KY), Shakespeare Composite Structures™ has since the 1950's pioneered the use of fiberglass reinforced composites in lighting and utility poles. The company is the world leader in fiberglass reinforced composite utility poles.

Shakespeare Composite Structures™ is on the World Wide Web at www.skp-cs.com. For more information, just call. (800-800-9008).

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[Editors: Black and white and color digital scans can be made available - email for information]

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Shakespeare Composite Structures is a Philips group brand
19845 Highway 76, Newberry, SC 29108
803.276.5504 · 800.800.9008 · Fax: 803.276.8940 · www.skp-cs.com