Category Archives: Recent News & Updates

Du-Co Ceramics Company™ is a fully integrated company complete with a Ceramic Engineering Department, Tool and Die Facility, Development Labs, and Up-to-Date Quality Programs.

Charmayne-Lonergan

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 Charmayne Lonergan.

Prof. Charmayne Lonergan has been a dedicated member of The American Ceramic Society (ACerS) since 2008. Her passion for ceramics and glass science has only grown over the years, largely due to her involvement in ACerS. Charmayne finished her Ph.D. at Missouri S&T under Prof. Brow, followed by a post-doc at the University of Central Florida with Prof. Richardson before starting her career as a Materials Scientist at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in 2016. At each professional step, she and her colleagues produced highly cited papers related to the design and characterization of glasses for a variety of engineering applications, including specialty optics and waste vitrification.

Prof. Lonergan was first a member, and then a co-chair of the Young Professionals Network. She is the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) liaison for GOMD and is an active member of the ACerS DEI committee. She was vice chair of the International Commission on Glass (ICG) Technical Committee on Waste Vitrification, a role that highlights her dedication to addressing global challenges through innovative glass-based solutions.

Prof. Lonergan is on the executive board for the ACerS Energy Materials and Systems Division, was a member of the Education and Professional Development Council, and was recently named to the board of the Ceramic and Glass Industry Foundation (CGIF). Along with her participation in the ACerS mentoring program, these positions are consistent with her dedication to fostering the next generation of professionals and to spread information and excitement for ceramic/glass science and technology. Her outreach endeavors and passion for engagement led to her being featured in a children’s book highlighting women in energy-related professions as well as a highlight by the Department of Energy on their “Women @ Energy” blog.

Du-Co Ceramics Company President, Thomas Arbanas says goodbye to Du-Co after 32 years.

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It is with mixed emotions that we celebrate the retirement of our President, Thomas Arbanas. Tom has been a mainstay at the company for 32 years and will be missed greatly. Tom spent many years in the plant, from the Press Room when he first started and moving up through the ranks into several other positions ending with over a decade as the President of the company. On any given day you could find him either in his office, somewhere in the main office or back on the plant floor. Tom has always taken the time to say hello on his way through either the plant or the office, making each employee feel seen and appreciated. Tom has dedicated 32 years into making Du-Co Ceramics the thriving company that it is today. Although we are sad to see him go for our sake, we celebrate with him and his family Jackie, Andrew and Ally as he moves into the next chapter in his life. Tom – We thank you for your hard work and mentorship throughout these many years. Thank you for being an example to us all! Enjoy all your new adventures with Jackie as you cross off those last few states. Make memories with Ally and Andrew as they celebrate their weddings, but most of all enjoy each of the moments you get to sleep in without having to worry about an alarm. HAPPY RETIREMENT!!!  

60th birthday celebration of Du-Co President, Thomas Arbanas

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This past Thursday, 5/8/25 was a significant milestone for our President as he celebrated his 60th birthday and his 32nd Anniversary with Du-Co Ceramics. Please take a moment, join with us, and wish Tom a very happy birthday. All at Du-Co wish you well Tom, and we hope you enjoyed your day!

Retired Du-Co Employees

Merry Christmas retired Du-Co Employees!

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Retired Du-Co Employees

Du-Co welcomed our retirees for a refreshment and handed out Company Yeti’s as a Merry Christmas and a thank you for all the years of service they have dedicated to the company. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for your time and talents invested in Du-Co and may you and your families continue to be blessed in the coming years.

Du-Co’s 75th Anniversary Picnic

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Du-Co celebrated this milestone achievement with a picnic on Sunday August 4th. In attendance were current and retired employees from the Saxonburg facility as well as Board Members and the Owners of the Company. A lovely meal was provided along with fun activities for the kids and raffles of numerous items, many of which sported Du-Co made products. Thank you to all employees for your dedication and hard work making it possible for Du-Co Ceramics Company to thrive for Three Quarters of a Century.

Du-Co Ceramics Company treats employees with Kona Ice to try and beat the summer heat.

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Employees took a break from all their hard work to enjoy a little cup of sweetness on July 24th from Kona Ice courtesy of Du-Co. Labor shortages have been tough, but Du-Co has the finest and most loyal employees and we want to thank them for continuing to show up each day even through the heat to work as a team to meet our customers’ requirements by producing quality ceramics. Thank you for your perseverance and dedication. To All Du-Co Ceramics Company Employees, You are Valued and Appreciated!!

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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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.