LEWISTON – Hahnel Bros. Co., an 88-year-old local roofing and duct work company, is merging with a Bangor firm to increase its access to skilled labor and gain efficiency.
“The dynamics of the construction industry have changed and become extremely competitive in the last couple of years,” said Alan Hahnel, president of Hahnel Bros. “To survive, we thought we had to do something with our overhead expenses.”
The answer lay about 100 miles to the northeast where Bangor Roofing and Sheet Metal Co. has done business since 1929. The two companies specialize in roofing and sheet metal duct work for industrial and commercial clients – a historical combination that arose from roofers of old doing rooftop ornamental metal work such as the onion dome on the Kora Temple on Sabattus Street. They also share a common co-owner, and have had a professional “sister” relationship for years.
But Hahnel said both companies were looking for ways to gain efficiencies, especially increasing flexibility to complete projects quickly.
“The construction industry is seeing an increasing emphasis on tight scheduling,” said Hahnel. “We’ve got to be prepared to put skilled people on project sites quickly.”
Hahnel Bros. employs about 100 people while Bangor Roofing employs about 70. The pooled work force will give the new company the flexibility to respond to tighter project deadlines. Hahnel said some management people will be redirected, which offers gains in reducing overhead.
The merger will become effective Jan. 1, 2005, the start of the new fiscal year. Hahnel Bros. Co. will be the new corporate name and no jobs are expected to be lost in the merger.
Hahnel said he expects the merger will allow the new entity, which will be the biggest roofing and sheet metal company in Maine, to stay competitive. He laments, though, the growing trend of fewer people choosing the trades for a career.
“We’re seeing a shrinking labor pool,” he said. “You see a lot of white-haired people doing the work these days.”
Hahnel hopes improved marketing will draw more young people into the trades. At his company, skilled workers make $19-$20 per hour and receive full health insurance coverage.
“These are good jobs,” he said.
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