Smith-Midland Corporation's Timeline

1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s

1960s

1960 - David G. Smith built the first concrete cattleguard for his father-in-law because he was tired of having to open and close the gate. The new product development caught on with the neighbors, who placed orders. Smith formed Smith-Cattleguard Co. with his son Rodney. The business started out as supplemental income to the 95-acre family farm, with the Smiths as the only employees. They invested in a cattleguard delivery truck and advertisements in the local farming journals. Twelve cattleguards were sold their first year. Read Article
1961 - Business increased to sixty cattleguards sold in a year's time.
1963 - An electrically heated automatic stock waterer was developed to supplement the cattleguard sales. The new product was a success.
1964 - The Smith-Cattleguard Co. had so much business that the Smiths hired full time employees. The cattleguards were sold in seven states at this time. Cattleguards were now produced in metal forms instead of wood, which greatly improved production time.
1965 - The Virginia Electric Power Co. asked the Smith-Cattleguard Co. to make a concrete utility manhole for them, which was traditionally done using masonry. The concrete manhole caught on and other concrete utility products were added shortly thereafter. The newly developed concrete fence was also added to the existing product lines.
1966 - Centerline and fenceline concrete feedbunks were introduced to the farm products lines.
1967 - Smith-Cattleguard's innovations continued with the development of a concrete trash incinerator. Read Article
1968 - The array of products had grown so extensive, that the first farm products brochure was published.

1970s

1970 - Smith-Cattleguard Co. had outgrown it's first plant. The company relocated to it's current location on Route 28 and built a 10,000 square foot plant. They were able to batch their own concrete in the new plant, whereas previously they'd used ready-mix concrete. By this time the company had 20 employees. Read Article
1971 - David Smith retired, but visited the plant occasionally. Rodney Smith took over as president. Smith-Cattleguard Co. opened two franchise plants in Lexington, KY and Gainesville, GA. Utility products had become an important part of the business. New additional product lines included concrete bases, parking curb stones, patio and walk blocks, and production millstones. The company also joined the NPCA.
1972 - Highway barriers were added and provided to the Whitehurst Freeway project in Washington, DC. This contract was the largest in the history of the company up to this date. Planters, subway beams, and stairways for townhomes were also added. Read Barrier Article, Read Company Article
1973 - The business continued to grow and the manufacturing plant was expanded by 64,000 feet, primarily for storage. A patented underground precast conduit was added. Farm products franchises also grew. Read Article
1974 - Rodney Smith was elected to the board of director's of the National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA). Read Article
1975 - The precast home was developed in response to a lack of adequate housing in the area. Read Article
1976 - Highway safety barrier's tongue-and-groove design was patented.
1976 - The state of Virginia accepted Smith-Cattleguard's newly designed concrete highway safety barrier for construction sites. The tongue-and-groove design replaced the wooden barriers traditionally used. The company also began renting their barrier for use on temporary installations. Business had grown to a point that the facilities needed to be expanded to include a newly constructed office building. Concrete Safety Systems was formed to rent the newly designed safety barriers for construction projects. Read Article
1978 - The Easi-Set precast concrete building was developed and patented. The building was originally designed for use as storage, utility applications, and garage space. Easi-Set Industries was formed, with Moffette Tharpe as president and co-founder. The company's purpose was to offer diversification to precasters under a license agreement. The company began using Smith-Cattleguard developed products. Easi-Set's roots began with the farm products franchises sold in 1971. Read Buildings Article, Read Easi-Set Article
1979 - Rodney Smith was elected president of the NPCA. Smith-Cattleguard of North Carolina opened in order to keep up with rising demand for the company's products. Precast fireplace designs were purchased from Sierra Precast and added to existing product lines at Smith-Cattleguard and Easi-Set.

1980s

1980 - Rodney Smith was named "Small business Person of the Year" for Virginia by the US Small Business Administration. Ad Design was formed to oversee the co-op advertising programs created for the network of Easi-Set Industries' licensed producers. Read Rodney Article, Read Company Article
1981 - The Sierra Wall post and panel soundwall system was purchased from Sierra Precast and added to Smith-Cattleguard and Easi-Set. The system was later redesigned due to changing state regulations, resulting in a generic soundwall design.
1982 - The Liberty Bank in Warrenton, VA was erected using the first architectural precast produced by Smith-Cattleguard Co. The Horizon crop/manure storage system was developed.
1985 - Smith-Cattleguard Co. was renamed Smith-Midland Corporation to reflect the diversity of products now offered by the company. Smith-Midland provided tongue-and-groove barrier to their first presidential inauguration.
1987 - Ad Design was reformed under the name Ad Ventures.
1988 - The Easi-Brick finish was developed for use on the Easi-Set buildings.
1989 - Smith-Midland Corp. (VA) earned plant certification from the NPCA. SMC was one of the first 14 plants to earn certification. Smith-Midland Corp. (VA) produced architectural precast panels for the National Rifle Association headquarters in Northern Virginia. This project was the first large scale building using SMC's architectural precast. Easi-Set hazardous materials storage buildings were developed. The first Smith-Midland installation of Beach Prisms test sites occured following the purchase of the existing technology. The orignial design was improved in the early 90s. SMC provides highway safety barrier rental to the presidential inauguration.

1990s

1990 - Smith-Cattleguard of North Carolina changed its name to Smith-Carolina Corporation to reflect the diversity of their current products. The J-J Hooks highway barrier connection system was developed. It replaced the original tongue-and-groove design.
1992 - Easi-Span Clear Span buildings were first developed. SlenderWall architectural precast/steel stud building panels were developed. The first SlenderWall project, the Health Insurance Plan Building in North Brunswick, NJ, was completed.
1993 - J-J Hooks barriers are provided to the presidential inauguration for the first time.
1995 - Smith-Midland Corporation went public. Smith-Midland (DE) and Smith-Midland (VA) became two separate entities. Smith-Midland (DE) was incorporated in Delaware and became the holding company for Smith-Midland ( the manufacturing plant in Virginia), Smith-Carolina, Easi-Set Industries, Concrete Safety Systems, and Ad Ventures. Read Article
1997 - J-J Hooks barrier was provided to the presidential inauguration.
1998 - Smith-Midland Corporation received two ACI awards: Special Award Category - Award of Excellence for the Spectrum at Reston Town Center; Excellence in Precast Concrete Award - Magellan Buildings, Columbia, MD. Easi-Cast buildings were developed. The walls and floor of the Easi-Cast building were produced in one monolithic pour. SMC provided SlenderWall panels to the Woodlands I project in Columbia, MD. This was the first project that made use of the newly developed Second Nature (Architectural Precast Concrete Brick).

2000s

2000 - SlenderWall panels were used at Times Square, for the 42nd Street renovation project. This was the first project approved by the New York Historical Society for Second Nature (Architectural Precast Concrete Brick).
2001 - J-J Hooks barrier was provided to the presidential inauguration.
2002 - The Single Outback restroom was developed, expanding the Easi-Set buildings product line.
2003 - Smith-Midland Corp received the NPCA's Creative Use of Project Award: Pentagon Remote Delivery Facility (Retaining Wall). SlenderWall panels were used on the first high rise project, the Marriott Execustay on Third Avenue in New York, NY.
2004 - Smith-Midland Corp received the following awards: NAIOP's Award of Excellence for Green Building of the Year for MDOT Headquarters, Hanover, MD; NAIOP's Award of Excellence for Build-to-Suit Project for MDOT Headquarters, Hanover, MD; NPCA's Creative Use of Precast, Building Projects Award for Marriott ExecuStay Project, New York City; ACI's Excellence in Concrete Award for Town Square Parking Garage, Silver Spring, MD.
2005 - The Easi-Set building's pitched roof design was developed, as well as the Double Outback restroom. Smith-Midland received NPCA's Creative Use of Precast, Second-Place Award for the Jefferson at Logan Circle, Washington, DC. J-J Hooks barriers were provided for the Republican National Convention, the World Bank, as well as the presidential inauguration.
2005 - Smith-Midland Corp received the following awards: ACI's Judges Award - Creative Use of Project for Jefferson at Logan Circle, Washington, DC; NPCA Creative Use of Precast, Judges’ Award for Beach Prisms, Erosion Control Barriers. Beach Prisms were reintroduced to the market after years of product testing.
2006 - Smith-Midland Corp received the following awards: ACI's Judges Award - Creative Use of Project for Jefferson at Logan Circle, Washington, DC; NPCA Creative Use of Precast, Judges’ Award for Beach Prisms, Erosion Control Barriers. Beach Prisms were reintroduced to the market after years of product testing.
2007 - Smith-Midland Corp received the following awards: NPCA's Creative Use of Precast, Above Ground Category, First Place Award for Jefferson at Inigo’s Crossing in Rockville, MD; NAIOP's Award of Merit for the Best Speculative Building R & D for Northridge at Westfield Office Park; NAIOP's Award of Excellence in the Best Building Category for Mid-Rise for Phase I of the Dulles Station Office Building West. SlenderWall panels were utilized on the tallest building in the state of Virginia, the Westin Hotel and Luxury Residences in Virginia Beach. Eight Easi-Set Buildings were used as cheetah enclosures by the Smithsonian.
2008 - Ashley Smith became President and COO of Smith-Midland (VA). Rodney Smith remained the CEO. The Easi-Span Skyline restroom models were introduced. Smith-Midland Corp received the following awards: NAIOP's Award of Excellence for the Best Building (8-14 stories) for 3120 Fairview Parkway Dr, Fairfax, VA; NPCA Creative Use of Precast, Above Ground Category, Third Place Award for Combat Training Facility, Virginia Beach, VA; NPCA Creative Use of Precast, Above Ground Category, Honorable Mention for 3120 Fairview Parkway Dr, Fairfax, VA. A continuous improvement program was initiated to implement new lean manufacturing techniques. SoftSound SoundWall, a sound absorptive system, was introduced.
2009 - Smith-Midland Corp (VA) received ACI's Concrete Award, Concrete Buildings/ Special for Jefferson at Inigo’s Crossing in Rockville, MD. J-J Hooks barrier was provided to the presidential inauguration. Smith-Midland Corp (VA) provided revolutionary precast roadway slabs to the I-66 Highways for LIFE project.
2010 - Smith-Midland Celebrates it's 50th Anniversary