When Oil Well Supply closed its doors in the late 1980s, it left behind not just empty buildings in Siverly’s industrial park, but a piece of Venango County’s long manufacturing story. Out of that moment of uncertainty, a new chapter began. In 1989, a group of workers and leaders brought the facility back to life, setting the stage for what would eventually become SMS Group. By 2008, the company had fully established its identity, building on the past while looking firmly toward the future.
Today, Operations Manager Brian Neely and Plant Manager Chris Hulings carry that story forward. Together, they oversee a team of nearly 90 employees—mechanics, machinists, engineers, and others—who keep the plant running with precision and care. Hiring has shifted in recent years, allowing SMS to be more intentional about who joins their workforce. While many of those employees are homegrown, others have chosen to relocate from outside Pennsylvania, drawn not only by the work but by a community that increasingly offers new opportunities for dining, entertainment, and recreation.
The buildings that house SMS may be more than a century old, but inside, the story is far from outdated. Robots hum alongside workers, precision tools shape molds with accuracy down to the smallest detail, and more than 70% of casting molds are completed right there in Oil City before making their way to steel producers across North America. The facility connects this corner of Venango County to markets as far-reaching as South America and beyond.
Yet, for Brian and Chris, innovation isn’t only about technology. It’s also about culture. Safety is treated with the same importance as productivity, and small ideas—like a workplace challenge that rewards employees with time off or upgraded spaces—have built a sense of pride and engagement. Family picnics, open houses, and activity nights turn coworkers into a community of their own.
The opportunities extend beyond culture, too. With starting wages around $30 an hour and the option of working overtime, employees have the potential to earn salaries approaching $90,000 a year. At the same time, millions of dollars in corporate investment are planned for the Oil City facility, a clear signal that SMS’s future here is strong.
This fall, as the nation celebrates Manufacturing Month, SMS reflects on what it means to be rooted here. Partnerships with fellow manufacturers like Electralloy and Venango Steel strengthen the region’s identity as a hub of making. And their connection with the Chamber, Chris explains, keeps them visible to both neighbors and future generations: “Having exposure within the community is important—whether through our logo displayed, hosting Chamber events, or welcoming school tours. It’s a way to let the community and future employees know who we are and what we do.”
From Oil Well’s closing to SMS Group’s success, the story of this company is also the story of resilience—a reminder that in Venango County, manufacturing is not just surviving, but thriving.
This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s October 2025 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.