Join Rebecca McPhail, president of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association, for a behind the scenes look at some of the state’s manufacturers. The array of products made in West Virginia is extremely diverse and the innovative processes used are by all standards, world class. The companies highlighted in this series are proud of their history and accomplishments, and relationships with their employees and local communities. Each short video leaves you with a sense of great pride in West Virginia’s amazing manufacturers!
Located along the Ohio River in the small town of Follansbee, Wheeling Nisshin is proud to be the only West Virginia manufacturer that makes every major type of coated steel. The company has further distinguished itself with a new coating product made from zinc, aluminum and magnesium (ZAM), with highly corrosion-resistant properties that define it as the coating of the 21st century.
Established in the 1980’s, Wheeling Nisshin was the first joint venture between an American steel company and a Japanese company. For 30 years, Wheeling Nisshin has supplied coated steel products to every industry that uses them. With 180 employees, the company is proud to be an active partner in building a sense of community in Follansbee.
Berkeley Springs is home to Gat Creek Furniture, a company that began just after World War II as a one-man shop. Gat Creek now uses several skilled artisans to hand craft a variety of solid wood home furnishings that are sold throughout the United States and to nearly 40 countries around the world.
The Appalachian forest supplies Gat Creek with some of the highest quality hardwood in the world. Each artisan at Gat Creek takes ownership over building an entire furniture piece, which is then finished, stained and signed by hand. With 150 employees -- the majority of whom are women, along with a solid number of young people -- Gat Creek’s entire staff takes pride in producing superb, hand-crafted wood furnishings being used worldwide.
