Lee B. Foster Since 1902 L.B. Foster has been providing superior products and services to our customers. That same level of commitment extends to our employees, who experience first hand a culture of respect, value and pride in the accomplishments we achieve together as an organization.
Valuing the employee is what drives our success as an organization. Employees are recognized for their contributions, given the opportunity to broaden their skills with job training, and provided a safe working environment. Our commitment to our employee team extends beyond traditional benefits and focuses on creating an environment that reinforces the dedication we have for our customers and our employees.
Our Mission:
L.B. Foster Company is committed to provide superior products and services to our customers, an entrepreneurial climate to our employees, and exceptional value to our stakeholders through progressive management and meaningful change.
Our Vision:
Our Vision is to deliver to our customers quality and timely solutions and be responsive to our changing markets. We will accomplish this by Fostering Excellence in our employees - by providing tools, training, and innovation to ensure the L B Foster Company will prosper as an Industry Leader now and in the future.
Integrity
Safety
Continual Improvement
Accountability
Team work
Commitment
Customer Focus
Recognizing and rewarding employee contributions comes in many forms at L.B. Foster. We acknowledge our employees throughout the year for the dedication and commitment they demonstrate each day.
• Comprehensive on-boarding process to facilitate your transition into the organization
• Communication Program to keep you abreast of Company performance
• Employee Appreciation Days
• Recognition-based incentive rewards program
• President’s Award (quarterly and annually)
• Service Award Program with unique alternatives such as children’s textbooks, exercise equipment, family portrait
• Annual Employee Feedback Surveys
• Employee Referral Program
• Focus on Safety
• Scholarships for children of employees
• Pay linked to performance
L.B. Foster is committed to the communities where our employees live and work. We expect our Company and employees to have a meaningful and positive impact on our neighbors and friends.
• Social Responsibility Program, encouraging and recognizing the volunteerism of employees
• Employee Committee established to review and recommend organizations the company supports
• Various events to raise money for charitable causes requested by employees
• Days off for community work
• Corporate support of community organizations, including:
––United Way Day of Caring
––United Way Fund Raiser
––Daffodil days for the American Cancer Society
––Race for the Cure, Susan G. Komen Breast cancer research
L.B. Foster offers a variety of benefit programs designed to provide personal security and wellbeing to our employees and their families. The benefits listed below are available to L.B. Foster full-time employees and their eligible dependents. Some benefits are provided with no cost to you. Others are elective, and you may be responsible for part or all the cost.
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- 401(k) Employer Contributions
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Disability coverage
- Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
- Vacation and Paid Holidays
- Supplemental Insurance Programs
- Tuition Assistance Policy
- Service Awards
- Credit Union
Railroad market lifts Foster in Green Tree
A bright forecast for the U.S. railroad industry bodes well for L.B. Foster Co., the company's chief executive said Wednesday.
CEO Stan L. Hasselbusch said the railroad market appears strong for the next five or six years. Foster, which has about 690 employees, manufactures, fabricates and distributes products and services for the rail, construction, energy and utility markets.
"Our (order) books are strong compared to last year," Hasselbusch said before the company's annual meeting at its headquarters in Green Tree. Foster's bookings are 3 percent higher than last year, he said. Foster estimated that it had a backlog of orders worth $196 million as of March 31, about $106 million of which was in rail products.
The demand for freight movement and logistical support for the railroad industry is predicted to triple over the next decade, with carriers committed to expanding rail capacity, according to the Association of American Railroads.
Most of Foster's $389.7 million in sales in 2006 were generated by its railroad products business. Rail sales were $189.2 million, compared to $180.7 million in sales for construction products. Tubular products accounted for $19.7 million in sales. But Foster found more profits in its construction business, $12.2 million, compared to $6.1 million from its rail products.
Foster supplies concrete railroad ties and competes in that market against Koppers Holdings Co. of Pittsburgh, which Hasselbusch refers to as "the 800-pound gorilla."
While wood ties remain the preference of the industry, Hasselbusch said that concrete is gaining more acceptance and occupies nearly 10 percent of the market.
It's new concrete railroad tie-producing equipment at its plant in Nebraska, and its new tie-producing plant in Arizona are manufacturing more ties than before, and Foster expects that to continue through 2007. Foster has contracts with the Union Pacific Railroad to purchase the concrete ties from those plants.
Foster is benefiting from the planned construction of ethanol plants and biodiesel facilities. It has $10 million in orders to provide those plants with railroad connections, said Hasselbusch, who has been chief executive for five years.
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