WHEELING-NISSHIN RECOGNIZED — In observance of National Manufacturing Week, the Follansbee Chamber of Commerce recognized Eagle Manufacturing, Koppers, Mountain State Carbon and Wheeling-Nisshin Inc. for their involvement in the community. A reception was held Oct. 5. On hand for the occasion were, from left, Chamber President Debbie Puskarich; Pat Ford, executive director of the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle; Mary Jo Guidi, who presented a proclamation recognizing each business from U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; and representing Wheeling-Nisshin Inc., Tanner Okano, chief executive officer and president; Pat Pendleton, vice president of manufacturing; Joe Sakai, vice president of finance and accounting; and Jim Bogolea, general manager of human resources.

FOLLANSBEE — The Follansbee Chamber of Commerce recently recognized four local industries for the role they play in the economy and community.

In observance of National Manufacturing Week, the chamber held a reception honoring the leaders and staff of Wheeling-Nisshin Inc., Mountain State Carbon, Koppers and Eagle Manufacturing on Oct. 5 at Wheeling-Nisshin’s headquarters.

Mary Jo Guidi, a representative of U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., also was on hand to present a proclamation from him acknowledging the role industries have played in the state’s history and economy and the management and staff that have helped to maintain that tradition.

Chamber President Debbie Puskarich told representatives of the four businesses, “The Follansbee Chamber of Commerce sincerely thanks you for being a part of our local community and we thank you for employing many people from our local area. To be successful in business does not mean changing the world. It means meeting a need well and dependably over time. Your companies do just that.”

Pat Ford, executive director of the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle, said the four businesses, including three more than 100 years old, have adapted to industry changes to remain a strong presence in their field and supply product all over the world.

A subsidiary of AK Steel, Mountain State Carbon was established in 1917 and quickly became a major player in the American economy, serving the emerging auto industry and the U.S. military during World War I.

Today the company supplies carbon, stainless and electrical steel materials for a wide array of products, from automobiles and appliances to industrial motors and power transformers.

The Follansbee Koppers plant produces furnace coke, which is used with other materials to produce steel.

Each year, through the AK Steel Cares program, staff at the various locations compete to provide the most support for a local charity they have chosen.

For two consecutive years staffers at Mountain State Carbon have won the contest’s traveling trophy for their support of the Follansbee R.E.A.C.H. Program, a local food pantry for which they have collected more than 3,700 pounds of food.

Built in 1914, the Follansbee Koppers plant is part of an international company based in Pittsburgh that is a global leader in developing, manufacturing and marketing wood preservation chemicals and wood treatment technologies for use in residential, industrial and agriculture applications, according to officials.

The local plant converts crude coke oven tars into materials used in the pressure treatment of wood and production of aluminum, carbon black, high strength concrete, plasticizers and specialty chemicals.

Locally Koppers has supported a number of youth sports programs and employees are encouraged to give time and resources to causes important to them.

Wheeling-Nisshin began in 1986 as a joint venture between Nisshin Steel and Japan and Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel. Each year the steel firm applies protective, corrosive-resistant coatings to about 700,000 tons of steel used in agriculture, automotive manufacturing, construction, solar power and other industries.

In 2013 Wheeling-Nisshin added a new coating product, ZAM, a zinc, aluminum and magnesium alloy developed by Nisshin Steel company leaders that is resistant to corrosion and scratching. It has been used locally in guardrails along Follansbee streets and in Brooke Middle School.

With the support of Nisshin Steel, Wheeling-Nisshin has awarded numerous scholarships to graduating Brooke High School seniors and has been among sponsors of Follansbee Community Days and Follansbee Christmas in the Park.

Last year city officials named Follansbee’s newly renovated ballfields for the company in recognition of its vital support, in the form of a $100,000 donation, to the project.

Established in 1894, Eagle Manufacturing Co. began as one of many glass factories in Wellsburg but evolved into a producer of assorted oil cans and today manufacturers safety cans, safety cabinets, secondary spill containment products and other material handling products as well as cigarette receptacles.

More than 1,000 products are manufactured by Eagle for a variety of applications, from industrial construction and chemical production to the fields of agriculture and medicine.

Earlier this year Eagle Manufacturing was acquired by the Justrite Safety Group, a 112-year-old Des Plaines, Ill., company that is a leading manufacturer of industrial safety products focused on asset protection and regulatory compliance, according to officials.

Eagle President Joe Eddy worked with others to establish the West Virginia Manufacturers Association’s educational fund and its Explore the New Manufacturing middle school campaign.

Other local industrial leaders said they also are interested in attracting young men and women preparing to enter the work force.

Drew Voters, plant manager for Mountain State Carbon, said for a time the manufacturing industry was struggling, prompting many students to pursue careers in other fields. But he said today there is a strong need for workers with a background in technology and electrical and mechanical skills.

Pat Pendleton, vice president of manufacturing for Wheeling-Nisshin, said, “We are finding it a challenge to hire skilled workers, particularly electrical and other engineers.”

He said the West Virginia Manufacturing Association has teamed with high schools throughout the state to introduce teens to such careers through the Explore the New Manufacturing program.

The program offers opportunities for industry representatives to speak to students and the students to tour manufacturing facilities.

(Scott can be contacted at Scott@heraldstaronline.com.)