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October 2021

With Ohio’s early industrialization in the 1800’s spurred by our agricultural roots and robust transportation infrastructure, Ohio cities became manufacturing hubs that drew thousands to migrate to Ohio from other states and abroad. Today more than 700,000 Ohioans work as machinists, engineers, technicians, and other manufacturing jobs at businesses throughout the state, making Ohio the nation’s third largest manufacturing state after California and Texas. On Manufacturing Day, we highlight Ohio manufacturing businesses who create the necessary products to modernize our world while providing high-skill, high-tech, and high-paying jobs in our communities.
This husband and wife team started their leather good manufacturing business 10 years ago when Aaron Buckley made Erin a leather purse for her birthday. Noting her husband’s talent, Erin, now the creative director, saw the great potential for small business in Gallipolis making leather goods. River City Leather has produced belts, purses, hats, shirts, bags, and more. The owners continue to be invested in their community, holding monthly fundraising events for the city’s development board and take pride knowing they can now employ several Gallipolis residents as their business grows.
Originally a trailer manufacturing company 50 years ago, Personal Protected has seen many different sides of the business world and has now become a mobile hand sanitizer station manufacturer. Like many other Ohio companies in 2020, Personal Protected learned to make the most out of a hard situation. Fighting to keep their family business afloat but unsure if their trailer products would survive the market downturn, Personal Protected created mobile sanitizing stations to not only keep a steady income, but help other local businesses in their community stay open as well by providing a level of safety for customers. Personal Protected has provided mobile sanitizing stations for several workplaces, schools, and even large outdoor events.
Long-Stanton Manufacturing has been making a name for themselves in Ohio for almost 200 years. By being a leader in metal stamping, Long-Stanton made some of the first war tokens (what is known as a penny today) featuring Abraham Lincoln in 1867! They also made components that went into the making of the Kenner Easy Bake Oven starting in 1964, as well as helping create gas station nozzles in 1966, and now provide several different products with their precision metal stamping services. Along the way they were named Cincinnati’s “Family Business of the year” in 2009. Long-Stanton products and tooling can be seen in local museums, but they are most proud of their local workforce the continues to grow.
Headquartered just north of Columbus, Modular Assembly Innovations (MAI) offers innovative manufacturing and assembly solutions at locations in East Liberty and in three other states where they employ more than 350 associates.
With more than 20 years experience in making a variety of automotive parts and components, MAI’s success is built on a foundation of operational excellence and supply chain management. Additionally, the company works hard to eliminate waste, streamline processes, and reduce overall costs to provide the best product price for consumers.
MAI is a certified minority business enterprise and believes having a diverse workforce allows the company to benefit from a variety of perspectives and backgrounds. MAI associates value volunteering their time in their communities and the company assists by donating high quality products to local charities.
For more than 50 years, the M.K. Morse Company has been manufacturing a wide range of innovative cutting solutions in Canton. As a second-generation family-owned business, the staff take pride in servicing customers in more than 70 countries. They are inspired by the belief that ‘there is always a better way to cut.’ Their team of researchers translate innovative ideas into solutions that deliver the great performance and value for their customers. Staff apply this same discipline to improve the precision and efficiency of their manufacturing and other business processes. This allows M.K. Morse to be the consistent and reliable partner their customers demand and a stand out business in Northeast Ohio.
ArcelorMittal Tubular is known for their quality production of pipes and tubing made of several different materials, from plastic to Stainless Steel. Since starting from scratch more than 100 years ago, they have faced multiple challenges, including having to rebuild their manufacturing plant after a fire, but they have shown how a business can grow, adapt, and invent new products to match the needs of their consumers. ArcelorMittal Tubular values their connection with their hometown in Richland as they are donors and supporters of local sports teams, as well as the “Shelby Foundation” which helps create scholarships for graduating high schoolers in the area. They are also the largest employer for the city of Shelby!
Surface Combustion has been an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of rugged, reliable thermal processing equipment since 1915. With more than 675 patents, 75 registered trademarks, and 250,000 pieces of equipment installed worldwide, Surface Combustion’s broad product portfolio includes controlled atmosphere and vacuum furnace designs, and custom engineered heat treat equipment. The company has been called "the IBM of the automotive industry" due to its prominence in providing equipment used to heat-treat automobiles parts. Other market applications include metal-mechanical, alternative energy, and waste remediation thermal processes.
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