International President Leo W. Gerard and District 10 Director Bob McAuliffe toured the North American Höganäs plant in western Pennsylvania where the 104 members of Local 2632-22 produce powdered metals.
The Stony Creek facility in Hollsopple, Pa., one of four operations the Swedish company runs in North America, makes powdered iron and stainless steel.
Höganäs’s buyers often mold the powdered metals into specific shapes like car parts and components of construction equipment, among other applications. Because there is almost no waste, using powdered metals is a highly efficient way to make irregularly shaped objects.
“I’m excited that we represent people in an industry like that,” Gerard said while touring the facility on July 10. “I can see it’s a growing industry, with the way the world is evolving, and to me that was really an eye opener.”
North American Höganäs underwent a renaissance in 2006, which the local union leadership credits to a new management, with a new, cooperative style.
“I go to a lot of plants, and they tell me about a team effort,” said McAuliffe. “But I think they have two separate teams, labor and management. I think it’s different here. I think this is a real team effort.”
