HOUSTON — National Trench Safety LLC, a Houston-based trench safety and traffic safety equipment rental and sales specialist opened a branch in Fremont, Calif., in the San Francisco Bay area.
NTS formed in January 2004, opened its first branch in Houston that spring, and expanded to Beaumont, Texas, in the fall of 2004. It opened a branch in San Antonio earlier last year.
“This new branch gives NTS five large and fully staffed operations and this new branch is also our first expansion outside the state of Texas,” said president Ron Chilton. “Our current plans call for NTS to open two additional new branch operations in the first quarter of 2006 as we continue to execute our plan of building a nationwide network of trench and traffic safety branches. Our 2006 operational plan calls for NTS to continue to look for existing trench and traffic safety companies that we may be able to acquire, as well as to open additional new branch operations in the second, third and fourth quarters.
The new branch will be managed by Tom Hartman, western regional manager for NTS. A long-time California resident, Hartman is a 25-plus year veteran of the trench and traffic industries.
NTS opened a branch operation in Austin, Texas, in November. That facility, NTS' fourth Texas location, is managed by Lee Giesen, an Austin resident and 15-year veteran of the trench safety and traffic safety industry.
Chilton added that NTS will not only look for existing trench safety and traffic safety companies to acquire in 2006, but will also look for start-up opportunities in other states.
