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Celebrating 75 years - Du-Co Ceramics

Du-Co Ceramics, Celebrating 75 Years Strong – Press Release

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DU-CO CERAMICS COMPANY

Celebrating 75 years - Du-Co Ceramics

CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURING OF CUSTOM TECHNICAL CERAMICS

PRESS RELEASE

As a world leader in technical ceramics manufacturing, Du-Co Ceramics Company is proud to celebrate 75 years in business. The Pennsylvania-based company with manufacturing locations in Saxonburg. PA and Monroe, NC has become a true small business success story that started from humble beginnings in a re-purposed slaughterhouse in 1949.

PRESS RELEASE
In the over seven-decade history, Du-Co Ceramics has become a world leader of custom manufactured technical ceramic components and insulators.

This past February commemorated the company’s 75th year in business. Du-Co’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement while meeting the requirements of their customers has been the foundation which the company has built on for each of those 75 years.

Get more information on Du-Co Ceramics Company’s story, capabilities, and products by visiting https://du-co.com/

Du-Co Ceramics’ origins began in 1949 when John J. Duke, President and Reldon W. Cooper, Vice President and General Manager, started the pursuit of their vision to grow their new business based on personal commitment to integrity, reliability, quality and superior customer service. The company, currently owned and operated by the Cooper family, attributes the company’s continued success to adherence to these same time-honored principles. Continuous improvement and facility investment programs form the basis upon which dedicated Du-Co personnel, comprised of experienced and skilled ceramists, aspire to continue the legacy of providing superior customer service through:

● Reliable delivery
● Meeting Quality Expectations
● Competitive Pricing

Du-Co Ceramics Company still utilizes some customized production equipment designed and built by Mr. Cooper, who recognized the importance of developing in-house maintenance and tool and die capabilities to assure adherence to production schedules to be a reliable supplier. In the 1970’s Du-Co Ceramics Company added the office building, tunnel and tool & die shop to the manufacturing facility. Du-Co Ceramics continued its expansion in 2001 by adding additional space, again increasing the manufacturing area’s square footage. In 2007, Du-Co Ceramics Company purchased the assets of another ceramic company which included a new manufacturing facility in Monroe, NC. With the continual success of the company, brought on by the solid leadership of the company’s owners and the unwavering dedication of its employees, Du-Co added a new metalized production line in 2022. With all the expansion efforts, Du-Co Ceramics currently has two ISO 9001 certified production facilities utilizing over 250,000 square feet. Du-Co Ceramics Company looks forward to continuing to provide quality ceramics at competitive prices for the next 75 years and beyond.

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Du-Co Ceramics Young Professional Award

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This award was established by the late Reldon Cooper, co-founder of Du-Co Ceramics, and is awarded to a young professional member of ACerS who demonstrates exceptional leadership and service to ACerS. This year’s award winner is Tessa Davey.

Tessa Davey is the UKAEA Reader in Nuclear Materials at the Nuclear Futures Institute at Bangor University in Wales, UK. Following two master’s degrees in physics (one experimental, one theoretical), she received her PhD from the Department of Materials at Imperial College London in 2017. Following this, she became faculty at Tohoku University in Japan, where she remained until 2023, and continues to hold a visiting professorship.

The goal of her research is to use a multi-scale simulation approach to discover and develop new materials that will be used in the most extreme conditions. She has previously worked extensively with ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs), nickel-base superalloys, and advanced alloys for nuclear fuels. Her recent work with UHTCs was recognized by the ACerS International Journal of Ceramic Engineering and Science with their 2023 Best Paper Award, as well through 23 invited presentations at conferences, workshops, and universities. Tessa has organized or co-organized 8 symposia at international conferences on technical and professional development topics.

Tessa has been an active contributor to the ACerS community since she became a delegate of the President’s Council of Student Advisors (PCSA) in 2014. She went on to become the first international PCSA Council Chair and was recognized for her leadership in encouraging diversity and inclusion with the ACerS Global Ambassador Award in 2017. Tessa continues to serve as a mentor for the PCSA, and other students through the ACerS Mentor Program. Over the years, Tessa has served on 13 ACerS committees, currently focusing on her work as Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Subcommittee, the Secretary of the Japan Chapter, and a member of the Engineering Ceramics Division International Committee.

Lori Welsh-Nury

Du-Co welcomes new HR Manager Lori Welsh-Nury!

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Lori comes to us with experience in HR working in manufacturing and with unions. She enjoys spending time with her husband John and their four (yes 4) dogs at their camp, kayaking and bike riding along with their two sons, Derrek and Kevin. We are supper excited to have Lori join the team and put her experience to work here at Du-Co.

Sprankles Octoberfest

Du-Co’s FAMILY VIP TENT EVENT at Sprankle’s OCTOBERFEST 9/8, 9/9, 9/10

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Festival Hours:

Friday, September 8
4pm–9pm

Saturday, September 9
10am–10pm

Sunday, September 10
10am–6pm

Du-Co employees and their families are welcome and encouraged to stop by the Du-Co VIP tent any time during the festival hours (Guests 21+ years of age can obtain a wristband (to wear for the entire weekend if planning to visit the tent on multiple days) to be served by the tent bartender. Food will be served at the tent during the following times to Du-Co :

Friday: 6pm-8pm

Saturday: 12pm-2pm and 5pm -7pm

Sunday: 12pm-2pm

Visit Kinderland (an entertainment area for kids of all ages), live entertainment on the main stage that can be seen right from our tent, visit various vendors throughout the festival grounds, and so much more. For more info regarding all of the happenings at Octoberfest, you can visit: https://spranklesoctoberfest.com/ .

Du-Co at Sprankles
Du-Co Employees

Kona Ice for Du-Co Ceramics Employees

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On Wednesday 8/23/23 Du-Co celebrated our employees with a treat from Kona Ice. We appreciate all the hard work of all our employees. The plant personnel and office staff working together keeps the company running and are so valued. A big thanks to all Du-Co employees for your hard work and dedication.   

Thomas Arbanas the President of Du-Co

Please join with us as a company and celebrate as Thomas Arbanas the President of Du-Co celebrates 30 years with the company!

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Some of you may not be aware of how he rose through the ranks from the Mixing and Press Room Supervisor, QA Manager, Sales Engineer, V.P. of Engineering, V.P. of Sales and Engineering to his current position of President of Du-Co. He makes it a point to bring this to the attention of new hires to demonstrate just how ripe for opportunity Du-Co really is. Tom has an open door policy and welcomes feedback and questions. He fosters respect from all with his ability to get into the trenches. He can often be found on the plant floor tracking down information, working with the supervisors or pitching in when they are out. Tom is instrumental in the running of Du-Co but will be the first one to ask for input from colleagues in order to collaborate and bring about a decision that is in the best interest of Du-Co. Please take a moment when you see Tom in the next few weeks to congratulate him on his 30 years with Du-Co. Thank you Tom for all your hard work, the behind the scenes tasks, the weekends, evenings and other innumerable ways that you have and continue to strive to improve and build on the wonderful legacy of Du-Co Ceramics.  

Tim Allshouse Retirement from Du-Co Ceramics

Congratulations to Tim Allshouse on his Retirement!

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After 45 years Tim has decided to retire and spend more time with his family, especially those grandbabies! We have been very blessed to have enjoyed the last 45 years with Tim. He has been an asset to Du-Co, but he is also just a wonderful person. He has been a loyal employee, generous and loving person in general and an all-around humble and hardworking guy. We are so happy for him to take this next step in his journey, but also are sad to see him go. We are so thankful for you Tim, enjoy your retirement!

Adam Pawlowicz Du-Co Ceramics

Please join us in congratulating Adam Pawlowicz on his promotion to Quality Control Technician on 9/26!

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Adam began his career at Du-Co Ceramics at the end of August 2021 like so many others do, working diligently at the kiln exit end and making it into the Union after meeting his probationary period. Shortly thereafter, an upcoming retirement opened up a spot in the lab and the opportunity soon seemed to point to Adam. A promotion offer was made, training commenced, and the next thing you know Adam was officially joining the management team as a Lab Technician by the end of September 2022. Opportunities are everywhere at Du-Co as Adam can attest to finding one that fits him well.

As if a promotion wasn’t exciting enough, Adam and his long-time girlfriend just purchased their first home. Now Adam’s commute to Du-Co is even shorter, further exhibiting his continued commitment to a long and successful career with us. Adam will tell you that he loves political science, studying the subject during his time away from work and even manages to squeeze in his love of cooking, hiking, and working out in his free time.

Du-Co Ceramics

Penn State Visits Du-Co Ceramics

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We had the pleasure of hosting a large group of aspiring Materials Scientists as well as their Professors from Penn State University. We enjoyed a wonderful day with the students as we took them on a guided tour through our facility. They were a wonderful group that were engaged in the information and provided insightful questions. We are hopeful this real world peek into manufacturing will help them as they choose their future paths.