Watts celebrates 150th anniversary at North Andover, Massachusetts headquarters

“Every drop counts.”

That was the theme behind Watt’s Water Technologies 150th anniversary celebration at its North Andover, Massachusetts headquarters on Aug. 5.

About 300 Watts employees, former employees, local and state officials, supplier partners, community members and trade media were present for the presentation which was broken down into several subtopics: History in every drop; Expertise in every drop; Innovation in every drop; and Community in every drop.

“I’m proud to be here today to celebrate our 150th – not many companies can say they’ve been around 150 years,” said Bob Pagano, CEO of Watts Water Technologies. “150 years — you have to adapt, you have to change, you have to do things differently. And Watts has done that. I’d like to acknowledge all of you who attended, past employees, current employees and all our partners for all the work you’ve done to get us to where we are today. We’ve grown to be a $2 billion-plus company. I look back on my 10 years here, and I think about the passion I’ve seen. The products our teams have created and patented, and the people behind Watts that now spans five continents. I stand by our mission to improve comfort, safety and quality of life for people around the world through our expertise and wide range of water technologies. And to be the best in the eyes of our associates, customers and shareholders. At Watts, our mission has always been driven by the belief that safeguarding water isn’t just a business endeavor, it’s an obligation.

“Our commitment is grounded on three core principals,” he continued. “Safety and regulation, water conservation and energy efficiency are what we call our triple play strategy, with a dedication to creating products that not only ensure the safe proper management of water but also reduce our impact on the environment. Watts is uniquely positioned to address these three critical needs of our customers.”

The manufacturer continues to host several celebratory events throughout the year at its various global locations to commemorate the milestone event.

During the event, Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Bruce E. Tarr, presented proclamations honoring Watts’ history from both the state Senate and House of Representatives.

Afterwards, Chris Jamieson, senior vice president and general manager — Europe region and global drains platform at Watts honored long-term Watts employees and thanked them for their service. Jamieson and Pagano then presented the Horne Family Circle of Excellence Award to Mike Gaulin, director, marketing communications Watts Water Technologies.

Mike Gaulin, director, marketing communications Watts Water Technologies, was presented with the Horne Family Circle of Excellence award during the event. Image courtesy of Nicole Krawcke/Plumbing & Mechanical

DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE

After remarks from company leaders and local and state officials, attendees headed inside to the Learning Center where a newly minted dedication wall honors the Horne family.

“Growing from a small machining shop to a global water safety powerhouse, I’m deeply honored to announce the newly named Horne Learning Center,” Pagano said. “The center, founded in 2016, was a hub for nationwide professional development, and since then, we have opened 10 learning centers globally. The centers are designed to deliver impactful expert-led product application base training and promote an industry industry-wide culture of continuous professional development. Education and awareness are the backbone of our customers’ business, and informed professionals are the key to innovation and safety. We honor the countless contributions of the Horne family and strive to emulate their commitment to excellence and education for future generations.”

Watts was purchased by Burchard Horne in 1918, who grew the business from a regional manufacturer into a nationwide business. His successor, George Horne was an active leader, aggressively seeking new markets and sales opportunities, developing the first national rep network to support his vision. Lastly, Tim Horne, director emeritus, ushered in a period of expansion through the acquisition of complementary companies, which transitioned Watts from a successful family-owned business to a global, publicly traded company.

Watts Water Technologies CEO Bob Pagano and the Horne family pose for a picture in front of the Horne dedication wall just outside of the Horne Learning Center in North Andover, Massachusetts. Image courtesy of Nicole Krawcke/Plumbing & Mechanical

“Anniversaries are actually more about the future than the past,” Tim Horne said during his presentation at the event.

After the dedication, attendees were invited inside the Horne Learning Center to see new Watts innovations and products first-hand. New innovations included Nexa, Watts’ new intelligent water management platform for commercial buildings, the Powers Intellistation 2, Mueller Smart Strainer, Leak Defense BuildAlert and Bradley commercial restroom and safety and emergency equipment. Bradley’s BradVan was also onsite demonstrating new emergency products for attendees.