Huntington, West Virginia is a longtime center of metalworking innovation
Primary Metals Manufacturing & Fabrication
Huntington, West Virginia and metals have a partnership that goes back generations. As the sophistication of metalworking and fabrication has increased, so have the skills of local workers. They understand the importance of the sector to our nation’s economy and deliver the productivity and quality employers need. They’re loyal, too — West Virginia’s manufacturing turnover rate is the nation’s lowest. That experience and attitude are just part of what makes our area an excellent choice for companies in metals.
There’s also easy access to raw materials, abundant low-cost energy, a full menu of transportation options, and a strong base of machine and fabrication job-shops, metal service centers, and specialists in paints, coatings, heat treatment, and toll processing.
The 50-mile labor shed surrounding our area is home to 360,000+ workers. A commitment to hard work is instilled at an early age, with Cabell County Schools beginning career literacy in the elementary grades. Career-focused education continues as students age, with local high schools and the Cabell County Career Technology Center delivers the technical and soft skills employers need, including well-established welding, machining, and industrial maintenance classes.
At the postsecondary level, highly regarded Marshall University offers degree programs in mechanical engineering, health and safety, business, IT, and 80 other fields, along with an advanced manufacturing center. Mountwest Community and Technical College offers more than 50 one-year certificate and associate degree programs, including machinist technology/CNC, welding, and management technology. In partnership with the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center, Mountwest CTC administers its Welding Technology and Machinist Technology/CNC degree programs as well as the innovative Systems Maintenance, Automation, and Robotics Technology (SMART) Program.
The Cabell County Career Technology Center provides continuing education for adults and customized training to meet employers’ specific needs. Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center also provides customized training to upskill employees with a broad range of skills including welding, machining, forklift operation, blueprint reading, and more.
Huntington’s well-engineered interstate and highway network delivers single-day truck access to much of the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Ontario. I-64 runs through the heart of Huntington and provides direct routes to St. Louis, Louisville, Lexington, and Virginia’s tidewater ports. Our three interstate-grade highways provide fast local connections. Inbound and outbound rail shipments have mainline service from both CSX and Norfolk Southern, plus there’s Amtrak’s New York-to-Chicago Cardinal. If you need air cargo, you’ll appreciate Tri-State Airport (KHTS), West Virginia’s only FedEx 757 hub thanks to its 7,017-foot (2,139 m) runway. Plus, there’s nonstop passenger service to Orlando, Tampa/St. Pete, Fort Myers, Myrtle Beach, and Charlotte.
Local utilities offer low rates thanks to an abundant supply and a collaborative attitude. For example, our area’s electric rates are nearly a third below the national average. There’s no shortage of natural gas and fresh water, as well as plenty of bandwidth for data needs.
Existing Employers
[trx_columns][trx_column_item align=”left”]Steel of West Virginia – a Division of Steel Dynamics
Special Metals Inc., a division of Precision CastParts Corporation
Nucor Steel West Virginia
Huntington Steel and Supply
Habor Steel of West Virginia, LLC
Martin Steel
Wooten Machine
JH Fletcher & Co.
Service Wire Company, Inc.
Richwood Industries
Level 1 Fasteners
Huntington Plating
Paris Signs
HG Medical
Magnetech Industrial Services, Inc.
McCorkle Machine
Koppers
“Our company has used the resources of HADCO and its partners several times in the last few years, helping with marketing and solutions to grow our customer base. HADCO has been a great resource for business contacts, marketing, training and financial programs. They even helped with finding our new property though their website. Our relationship with HADCO has been a great asset to us and will continue to be so as our company grows.“
Tony Wheeler, President & CEO
Paris Signs