Safway
First in Scaffolds - now celebrating 75 years

Safway Strong Since 1936

Bridge A recognized leader in providing safe, reliable scaffolding and access solutions, Safway Services is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Since its inception, Safway has been an innovator in scaffolding and unique access solutions for projects of all sizes.

Since 1936, Safway has been on the cutting edge of scaffolding and access technology. Founded by Reinhold Uecker, the inventor of the first steel scaffold, Safway has since introduced safe, successful products like Systems™ Scaffold and QuikDeck™ Suspended Access System.

Safway continues to grow today and currently has more than 80 branches across North America with approximately 4,000 employees. With the largest in-house engineering staff, award-winning safety program and a robust project management system, Safway strives to provide safe and efficient access to jobsites across North America.

Safway Timeline

  1. 1936 Company founded in Milwaukee, Wis., by Reinhold Uecker, inventor of the first steel scaffold
  2. 1937 Company's name changes from Uecker Equipment Company to Safway Steel Scaffolds of Wisconsin
  3. 1938 Scaffold End Frame patented
    Headquarters moved to 62nd and State Street in Milwaukee
  4. 1939 Henry Blume becomes second Safway President
    Acquires first branch location
  5. 1940 Ben Christian becomes third Safway President
  6. 1941 Milwaukee distributorship acquired, leading to future acquisitions setting up country-wide expansion
  7. 1942 Safway Steel Scaffolds of Wisconsin changes name to Safway Steel Products
  8. 1943 Barge scaffolds used to repair war ships in San Francisco
  9. 1950 Dave Smith becomes fourth Safway President
  10. 1956 Acquires folding gymnasium seating line to reach new markets
    Develops a new system of auditorium and arena seating
  11. 1960 Teamed with other charter member companies, Safway forms the Steel Scaffolding Institute to develop a Scaffold Technical Committee
    Safway expands business operations to every state but Alaska
    Richard Vandekieft becomes fifth Safway President
  12. 1966 ATO (now Figgie International) acquires Safway
  13. 1967 Bill Stetzelberger becomes sixth Safway President
  14. 1973 Robert Gray becomes seventh Safway President
  15. 1974-77 Introduces numerous new products: attachable access ladders, scaffold guardrail gates, perimeter guardrail posts, dual purpose clamps and air driven scaffold hoists
  16. 1984 Safway Systems™ Scaffold receives patent
  17. 1988 Bill Kriss becomes eighth Safway President
    Mason's Multi-Point Suspended System introduced
  18. 1990 ETH-35, a state-of-the-art scaffold hoist, replaces industry standard ETH-20
  19. 1993 First international branch opens in Mexico City, Mexico; Guadalajara and Hermosillo sites follow
    Marc Wilson becomes ninth (current) Safway President
  20. 1994 Name changes to Safway Steel Products, Inc.
  21. 1995 Two German companies, Thyssen Hünnebeck and plettac AG
  22. 1999 Launches company website: www.safway.com
  23. 2000 ThyssenKrupp becomes sole owner
  24. 2002 Enters Canadian market by creating a Canadian subsidiary
  25. 2003 Name changes to Safway Services, Inc.
  26. 2004 Industrial Services Division created to support specialized industrial applications
  27. 2006 Bridge Division created with purchase of QuikDeck™ Suspended Access System
  28. 2007 Name changes to ThyssenKrupp Safway, Inc.
  29. 2009 Motorized Division formed to specialize in suspended and ground-based access solutions
    Safway launches the SafAscent™ Wind Turbine Platform for maintenance, inspection and repair
    Odyssey Investment Partners, LLC acquires ThyssenKrupp Safway;
    Name changes to Safway Services, LLC.
  30. 2010 EHS Today names Safway one of America's Safest Companies