Littlestown Foundry

Littlestown, PA
www.littlestownfoundry.com

Littlestown Foundry is not afraid of innovation.

Luther D. and Emory H. Snyder started the Littlestown Hardware and Foundry Company Inc. in 1916. Today, the company is even making parts for the solar industry.

“Obviously to be in business for 108 years you have to have done some things right,” says Steven Kress, V.P. & General Manager, Littlestown Foundry. “Quality really separates us. The quality of our castings is at the highest level.”

The quality inspection department might be one person, but 97 people are inspecting a part along the way. Employees have been trained to look at a part before they start working on it, which means there are a lot more eyes on a part. Each employee is empowered to fail a casting or to point out a defect.

For companies who are looking to improve quality, Kress says ISO is a big factor.

“ISO has been a major part of our success. We’ve been ISO certified for almost 20 years now. That is the thing that has separated us from everybody else. It drives us and makes us responsible for the parts we make. We don’t just work on ISO at the end of year to pass an audit. It’s something we do every single day, it’s integrated into everything we do.”

In addition to their traditional castings, the company has been manufacturing new parts for solar field applications. “It has been an interesting transition for us, but a successful transition,” he says. “Green energy is a real thing and we’re trying to be part of that growth.”

The company is not afraid to learn from other companies—if you’re arrogant about what you know, you’ll be left behind, Kress says—and they also are happy to host other foundries to share their expertise. “We’re not hiding anything, we let people come in and tour all the time.”

They treat employees well, with benefits such as 401(k) matching, pensions, and good health insurance. The employee average at the company is 10 years, though the president and V.P. of Operations have been with the company far longer: 50 years for the president, 40 for the V.P. of Operations.

Kress worked for the company in college. He left and later ran his own business for 27 years. Ten years ago the company approached him to see if he would come back. He’s been back since.