2005 marked the 85th anniversary of JE Berkowitz, LP. Founded by Jacob E. Berkowitz, the company manufactured
mirrors for furniture, department and variety stores from its first
plant in the city of Philadelphia.
From our beginnings, JE Berkowitz, LP became the largest
silvering plant in the city and, by 1940, had outgrown its
facilities and moved to Philadelphia's waterfront
district. Greater space allowed for expansion of the
beveling and silvering operations.
In 1950, Jacob's son, Edwin J. Berkowitz, joined the
business. Soon after the company made a decision to
remove the beveling and silvering departments and to
concentrate on the distribution of mirror products.
The company was successful in pursuing government contracts
with both the Army and Navy. Later, a line of recessed
sliding mirror medicine cabinets was developed for many of
the Northeast's leading home builders and apartment
developers.
In 1970, the
company relocated for a third time to its present site in Westville, New Jersey. The
original
41,000 square foot building contained an overhead bridge
crane which facilitat
ed the distribution of flat glass to
glass shops and glazing contractors. Sliding mirror
doors and stainless steel framed mirrors were added shortly
thereafter in a second building. In the mid-1970's,
the third generation, Arthur M. Berkowitz, joined the
company. He assumed the presidency of JE Berkowitz, LP
some ten years later in the mid-1980's.
1980's-to the present the
company experienced substantial growth, resulting in a
fourth building on the Westville site with total floor space
now over 180,000 square feet. In addition to
distribution and fabrication of insulating and tempering
glass, the company expanded its cap
abilities to include the
fabrication of lead-free ceramic frit spandrel glass,
assembly of All Glass Entrances and distribution of store front metals.
JE Berkowitz, LP has actively participated
in the various trade associations, including the Glass
Association of North America, the Insulating Glass
Manufacturers Association, and the National Glass
Association, and has maintained a leading position in the
after-fabrication and distribution markets. We are
thankful for our growth over the years and look
toward the future with confidence for new challenges and
opportunities in the glass industry. Recent ISO
9001-2000 certification reaffirms our commitment to provide our customers with the excellent service they deserve.