A family business that has stood the test of a century
We haven’t always been a leading manufacturer and distributor of asphalt products in the Pacific Northwest.
Our story has humble beginnings as a small fuel supplier that unfolded into a classic tale of an immigrant family achieving the American Dream through diligence, resourcefulness, and a willingness to take risks.
From Small Beginnings
Around the turn of the twentieth century, America saw millions of immigrants pour into the country, seeking better lives. The Arntson family from Norway was one group of newcomers that ended up settling in Portland, Oregon. The youngest Arntson son, Sophus (Sam), had an enterprising spirit and joined a promising, young Portland home fuel supply firm called the Albina Fuel Company in 1908.
In the following decades, Sam helped the company overcome economically challenging times while also leading the firm into the fiercely competitive, but ultimately lucrative, oil distribution business.
One Family’s Hundred-Year Journey
Upon Sam’s death in the early 1940s, a succession of Arntsons—from Sam’s son to grandson to great-grandsons—led the company through a series of expansion and diversification ventures. This liberal and adaptive business philosophy sometimes caused the company to suffer from ill-fated endeavors, but in the long run, enabled the Arntson family to succeed in Portland’s erratic fuel market.
After a century of growth, the name Albina Fuel gave way to Albina Asphalt. The change reflected not only a shift in core business activities but also the family’s audacity to meet new market demands.
Today, the fourth generation of Arntsons maintain a bold business strategy while still delivering the same quality of products and services that made the company a regional market leader.
In this modern age when so many companies are international, large and impersonal, it is so refreshing to work with a firm that is family owned and genuinely cares not only for its own staff, it’s clients and the markets that it serves. Albina takes ownership of its actions and responds accordingly! I am confident that the Oregon/Northern California and Washington market place will enjoy another 4+ generations of Albina Asphalt interest and attention!
Richard Champion | Western Region Sales Manager
We have been working with Albina Asphalt for over "20" years. Excellent customer service and always friendly and willing to work around our paving schedule. We highly recommend Albina Asphalt for all your paving needs! There just a text message away!
Kim | S-C Paving Co.
Albina Fuel has been Blackline’s primary asphalt emulsion supplier for 30+ years. They have always shown an outstanding amount of honesty, professionalism and transparency. In addition to their quality material, they provide an abundance of knowledge in the construction field and are willing to troubleshoot any issue you might have in the field. I recommend Albina for anyone in need of petroleum products and plan to continue my business relationship with them for years to come.
Cody Lorenzen | Blackline, Inc.
Ingevity values the long-term partnership we have built with Albina. Their organization is a pleasure to do business with and their leadership at all levels is accessible. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Albina team.
Scott Farrell | Ingevity
For over twenty years, we have had the privilege of partnering with Albina Asphalt. With shared goals of open communication, commitment to safety and each other’s success, our relationship with Albina has provided a foot-print for an effective customer/supplier relationship.
Matt Werger | Northstar Chemical
I would say I have appreciated doing business with Albina mainly because of their solid business practices. Their yes is yes and their no is no. If they say a load is going to be there, they will make every effort to make it happen on time. If there are any problems with an invoice or a quote, it gets resolved immediately, no hassles. The owners of the company are readily available to discuss any ideas I have on how to make our relationship work better for both of us. I look forward to doing business with Albina in the future.
Brain Ramsey | Tehama Asphalt
Excellent group of folks at Albina!. We have been purchasing emulsified asphalts from Albina. Knowledgeable, reliable and competitive!
Chris Handley | Tullis, Inc
High quality products with great customer service. Ablina is always a pleasure to work with. We know they will stand by whatever they deliver.
Don Matthews | Pavement Recycling Systems, Inc
Our company has a long standing relationship with Albina Asphalt and have always found their loading facilities and operators easy to work with and their customer service and administrative staff very accommodating. Safety is obviously a top priority with Albina Asphalt as witnessed with the way their operators conduct themselves while loading our trucks and what is expected from our drivers. Loading has always been prompt which helps to keep our drivers on schedule. I look forward to a continued relationship with Albina Asphalt.
Local Tanker Fleet Operations Manager
I have been doing business with Albina Asphalt for over twenty years, Their customer service is next to none when using their trucking for deliveries. The equipment is in top shape, the drivers are very courteous and always willing to help in anyway to make the customer happy. The drivers are very knowledgeable about the safety and handling of hot asphalt and PPE is always in place. I would recommend Albina’s services to anyone in the business. I have been lucky to have been included in some outdoor activities with the Arntson family, they are all around good people.
Dave Schweizer | Knife River
Mt Hood Asphalt is a paving company based in Sandy Oregon and Albina Asphalt has been our supplier for 31 yrs. Albina has always supplied us a consistant product which provides an excellent paving project for our customers. When issues arise Albina is always a good contact for solving the problem. Another big thing for us is that Albina provides trucks and delivers the product to us with little or no delays. They are fair with their payment terms and billing is taken care of promptly from their office staff. It has been a good experience working with Albina and expect to do business with them in the future.
Dan Turin | Jim Turin & Sons, Inc.
Road & Driveway Company is a small family owned and operated asphalt mix production business on the Oregon Coast. We have relatively low volumes, but Albina Asphalt has always treated us like a top customer. On the Oregon Coast we typically deal with two products; PG 64 -22 and CSS-1. When a project specifies an atypical product; Albina Asphalt has been very helpful in procuring it. If there is ever a specified product on a project that is either unavailable or obsolete our sales representative, Ken VanDaam, has been very helpful in providing us with an equal or better alternative to suggest. Albina Asphalt has helped us in answering many binder specific questions. Albina Asphalt has gone above and beyond the customer service call of duty with us on several occasions. Once they sent representative, Dave Zillman, to speak on our behalf during a public hearing. Dave’s testimony was eloquently delivered and without it our presentation would have certainly been lacking. Albina Asphalt is heavily involved with current issues facing the Oregon asphalt paving industry community. The generous contribution of Albina Asphalt was instrumental in the renovation of the Asphalt Pavement Association of Oregon headquarters in 2018. The Arntson family, the sales team and the quality control staff at Albina Asphalt have always been a group of knowledgeable, reliable and personable individuals. The billing staff is friendly and efficient. Most importantly their trucks show up on schedule! Road & Driveway Co. appreciates Albina Asphalt’s professionalism throughout the years and look we forward to what the future brings.
Rob Wienert | Road & Driveway Co.
That left us with the choice of either backing away from the project or finding someone we could count on to make the material and ship it to us in Fairbanks. I called an old friend, Dave Zillman with Albina Asphalt in Portland, OR. I have worked with Dave on various slurry, microsurfacing and experimental projects since 1975. I knew I could count on him to give an honest opinion as to whether he could make a proprietary material, ship it 2,300 miles to Fairbanks and have it arrive in stable condition. The next day Dave called and said they could do it.
Robert D. Frost | California Pavement Maintenance
