With a legacy going all the way back to 1901, Franklin Industries (formerly known as Franklin Steel) has been a familiar name in the community for generations. Right from the beginning, its hot-rolled rail steel products have gained a reputation for quality and strength.
Today, their steel DOT-grade u-channel posts and industry-leading agricultural t-posts are in demand throughout the U.S. and internationally. While many of their competitors manufacture their products using billet steel, Franklin Industries continues to use 100% recycled steel for all of their products.
2022 brought Franklin Industries to their 20th year of ownership by the Kovalchick family, with the family’s third generation now working directly in the day-to-day operations of the company. The Kovalchicks’ commitment to keeping one of the community’s key employers competitive within the industry is evidenced by their consistent investment in the operation.
Moving toward the future, Franklin Industries is looking at ways to streamline the production process with improvements such as a Flange Flying Shear; new mill housings to keep ready for spares; converting the legacy DC & synchronous rotating equipment to more efficient AC motors and drives; and researching ways to be more energy efficient, such as the possible installation of solar panels.
These improvements, along with a program working toward making Franklin Industries an ISO9001 company, will further establish the company as a leader in hot rolled steel products. Franklin Industries is constantly searching for talented and energetic people to help make it happen and meet those future goals.
With employees being their most valuable resource, safety will always be their #1 goal. Employees of Franklin Industries receive a full benefit package and just recently enjoyed a company -sponsored Family Day at Waldameer Park in Erie. Anyone interested in employment is encouraged to contact their Human Resources Department; check their Facebook page for any specific openings and look them up on YouTube to learn more.
This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s October 2022 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.