THE BEGINNING
In 1974, Walter Kilbreth was welding pipe for a local welding company on a construction project in Rumford, Maine. After learning he was the lowest-paid worker on the job, he decided then and there to become self-employed and he promised himself he would never treat his employees the way he had been treated.
Walter borrowed $3,500 from a local bank in Phillips, Maine, and became self-employed. He named his company Kilbreth’s Welding, and spent the next several years working various construction projects, from Northern Maine to as far south as Virginia and as far west as Ohio.
In 1977, he became tired of all the traveling and decided to establish his business in the Kingfield, Maine area where he soon became very well known for his quality workmanship and fair prices. At that time, his work consisted primarily of field repairs of skidders, log trucks, construction equipment, and the like.
In 1985, Walter hired his first employee, who is still with him today. Also in 1985, ARC Enterprises, Inc. was established.
The following year, the first repair shop was built – a whopping 50’ x 70’ wood-framed building which became too small very quickly. So, in 1989 the company moved from that location up the road a couple of hundred yards and built a steel-framed 15,000 square foot facility. Within three years, the company outgrew that space and expanded with a 12,000 square foot addition.
In 1993, ARC Enterprises, Inc. became quality certified through the AISC Quality Certification Program. The certification covered simple bridges and steel buildings. Several years later, we upgraded our certification to Major Bridges, Complex Buildings, with a sophisticated paint endorsement. At that time, we decided to concentrate on steel plate girder fabrication for major bridges.
In 2010, Walter’s son Jake decided to join the ARC team and we are now becoming a second-generation enterprise. Over the past several years, Jake had worked in the steel fabrication industry and has brought with him some new ideas and a fresh approach to operating the business. This is a very exciting time in the life of a small company, and we expect great things to happen over the course of the next several years. Also in 2010, another 12,000 square foot addition was completed and additional acreage was purchased for future growth.
TODAY
Beginning with no more than a dream to establish a business, a commitment to provide a quality product for a fair price, and a promise to treat employees and clients with dignity and respect, Walter Kilbreth has established ARC Enterprises, Inc. as one of the premier bridge fabricators in New England.
Walter and Jake have made the commitment to themselves and to their employees to carry on with the tradition of quality, safety, and consideration of others while striving to make ARC Enterprises, Inc. the premier fabricator of choice for General Contractors in bridge construction throughout the Northeast.
