In December of 2022, WHP Trainingtowers™ hit a major milestone. We sold our 1000th project! It’s been quite a ride from the early days when Fire Chief Bill Jahnke first bought Werner-Herbison-Padgett (renaming the company WHP in honor of the founding fathers) and relocated the company to Overland Park, KS. Much has changed in the firefighting and construction industries, and WHP Trainingtowers™ has been at the leading edge of both.
Combining Firefighting and Construction
Back in 1980, Bernie Padgett founded Werner-Herbison-Padgett, a large Chicago construction company that developed a reputation for quality, integrity, and customer service. Padgett saw an unfilled need in construction for a fire training building that could withstand repetitive uses in harsh environments. He introduced the first ever metal fire training tower to the market. That first tower is still in use today, over four decades later, in Kotzebue, Alaska! Chief Jahnke bought the company in 1997, and with his 28 years of firefighting experience and decades in construction management, used his unique combination of skills to take the company to the next level.
Setting Industry Standards in Two Industries
WHP’s mission is to provide the highest quality, most rugged metal training buildings available. To do that, they stay ahead of the changes in both the firefighting and construction industries to ensure that our products are always leading the way. When we started out, training towers were all metal, including metal floors and roofs. WHP has updated and upgraded these towers to make them more like real-life buildings so that firefighters can be better prepared for whatever types of buildings they encounter.
Innovation and Improvements in Fire Training Towers
Here are some of the innovations and improvements WHPTrainingtowers™ has implemented over the years:
2002 – Introduced concrete floors throughout the entire structure for increased durability and longevity.
2004 – Redesigned shutters doubling the thickness of the steel and adding a hardware package operable from the inside and out.
2004 – Hot-dipped galvanized standard on all stairs, railing, ladders, and other fabricated components lowering maintenance and increasing longevity.
2006 – Upgraded rappelling anchors to forged hot-dipped galvanized swivel-style anchors for increased safety and capacity.
2007 – Upgraded maze system to function without ceiling tracks increasing the usable maze area to the entire structure.
2009 – Designed the first fully integrated HAZMAT training facility for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Manufactures HAZMAT props for training needs.
2016 – Introduced MODx towers featuring walls that are independent of the unit, this structure allows all walls, doors and windows to be easily moved, removed, or reconfigured.
2016 – Upgraded hollow metal doors to plate steel doors and continuous hinges increasing the durability and reducing maintenance.
2017 – Added permanent waterproofing component to concrete floor decks reducing maintenance and increasing the lifespan of the structure.
2020 – Introduced Padgenite Interlock™ burn room liner system which combines more durable tiles that are less dense (lower thermal transfer) with a grid system that offers a flexible air gap which protects the walls and ceiling behind the grid.
Every improvement and upgrade is designed not only to enhance training and keep firefighters safer, but also to create more durable buildings that will last for decades making the investment more valuable and ultimately more affordable.
Louisville, KY Fire Department Gets New Training Tower
The 1000th project is a training tower for the Louisville, KY Fire Department. This custom-designed tower features three buildings surrounding a U-shaped courtyard. The tower will help firefighters prepare for fires in urban houses and apartments. “They came to our booth at the FDIC in Indianapolis,” said retired Captain James R. Van Bibber, National Sales Manager. “We talked about what they needed and we engineered this tower specifically to meet those needs. It is custom-designed for the Louisville Fire Department and scheduled to be delivered in June. Once it is on site, our crews will erect it.”
Delivering What the Firefighting Industry Needs
“Considering the size of a typical project, hitting our 1000th project is a marker that calls for celebration. It reflects decades of dedication and focus and truly is an opportunity to step back and be proud of the work we’ve done.” Van Bibber shared. He said that the 1,000th sale marked how focused WHP has been on creating relationships with fire departments across the country. “Communication is key. With every project we learn new things which have helped us evolve with the changes. We always try to stay ahead of the curve, especially when it comes to technology,” Van Bibber shared. “It’s rewarding to know that the path we’ve been on for the past 43 years is a productive one and we are delivering what the industry needs.”
