COLUMBIANA – As Humtown Products ushered in 2020, the Columbiana-based company reports it was poised for tremendous growth with its conventional and 3D printing facilities operating at a record pace, receiving upward of eight semi loads of sand per week. In addition, 3D printing capacity expanded significantly with the installation of two more sand printers at the Leetonia plant.
As at most organizations, the COVID-19 crisis took its toll. After the downturn, sand shipments were reduced to only one or two loads a week and the company was forced to downsize. Humtown was deemed an essential business, allowing it to keep operations running to provide sand cores and molds for customers.
The year started to look up significantly in August as the National Association of Manufacturers announced that Humtown was recognized with leadership awards in two categories: Commercialization of 3D printing in the metal casting industry and in talent management. In both categories, Humtown was recognized alongside industry giants Boeing, Lockheed Martin and General Motors.
In October, years of hard work and innovation culminated in Humtown being named the Small to Medium Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year by the National Association of Manufacturers.
“The manufacturer of the year announcement was perhaps the most exciting news in our 60-year history,” says Mark Lamoncha, president.
“We would never have achieved this without the innovative work of our team of industrial athletes and the tremendous support from the Mahoning Valley.”
The manufacturers association also awarded Humtown High Achiever in the category for Engineering and Production Technology Leadership.
More accolades followed with Lamoncha being named an America Makes Ambassador for his contributions to the additive manufacturing community. And leading into 2021, he also was selected to serve on the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber board of directors.
Despite the challenges of 2020, Humtown is poised for an exciting year in 2021, he says. Through a series of fortunate introductions, the company is expanding onto the global stage with several opportunities in Brazil and India.
As such, Brandon Lamoncha, director of additive manufacturing, will be making exploratory visits to each country to engage with the emerging additive manufacturing industry and explore future partnerships. The company also will host a series of online conversations to bring industry partners together, providing leadership and guidance for future global opportunities.
Humtown, established in 1959, remains family-owned.