Dan Erb takes over Jones Metal Products Company
Dan Erb, center, is the new owner of the Jones Metal Products Company. He has been with the corporation since 1996. He is pictured with his strategy group. From left are: Matthew Armstrong, information technology; Doug Share, engineering and development; Mike Baker, chief financial officer; and Mike Finton, plant manager. Josie Sellers | Beacon
WEST LAFAYETTE – When Marion Sutton, the third generation of family owners of the Jones Metal Products Company, announced her plans to retire, Dan Erb knew it was the time to go for his childhood dream.
“I always wanted to own my own business,” said Erb, who is the new owner of the company. “I like what we’ve created here with the employees and the niche we’ve developed. I didn’t want someone else to come in and take that and destroy it.”
Erb, the current president and CEO, started with the corporation in 1996 with The JonesZylon Company, and has been running Jones Metal since 2002.
Jones Metal is a metal forming company, manufacturing parts for many industries, including aerospace, defense, medical equipment, and lighting. The company specializes in hydroforming, fluid cell forming, aluminum and vacuum heat treating, deep draw stamping, and fabricating. Certifications include AS9100-2009 Revision C; ISO 9001:2008 without Design; NADCAP AS7003 for Heat Treating, and the company is ITAR registered.
They have customers not only in the United States, but also in Hong Kong, the Czech Republic, Turkey, Canada and Mexico. Two of the many companies they have relationships with are Boeing and Gulfstream.
“When you have customers like that you know you are good at what you do,” Erb said. “Hydroforming is our niche. If there is a part that can be made this way we can do it. We are in the same class as only two or three other companies in the United States. We are the go-to if people have challenges or need something fixed.”
One of the reasons they are good at what they do is because they have a great group of people working for them.
“We have people who are willing to learn,” Erb said. “They put the company first and are willing to grow in their positions.”
He added that loyal people make it easy for them to compete.
“In our world there are no bad competitors,” Erb said. “They went out of business a long time ago. All you have left is the A team competition. To be the best we have to learn to be the best at what we do.”
Jones Metal Products Company has operated under some degree of family management and guidance since 1923. Erb learned a lot from the family during his time working for them.
“I came up through the company learning from Marion and her father Ed Mulligan,” Erb said. “The biggest thing is to treat people right. A lot of people say that, but Ed and Marion lived it.”
Erb plans to keep the metal forming manufacturing company family orientated like they did.
“We do a lot of meals together, but one thing I’d like to bring back is renting Lake Park’s aquatic center for our employees, their families, kids and grandkids to enjoy,” he said. “I always want this to be like a family.”
Erb plans to continue to support the community in any way he can.
“My wife Kelly and I live in West Lafayette,” he said. “We love this town and the county and will continue to support it.”
Erb also is thankful for the support the community has shown him and the company.
“The Home Loan Savings Bank, Coshocton Port Authority and the Coshocton County Chamber of Commerce have been very supportive throughout the years and this process,” he said.
Jones Metal currently has 56 employees. Erb plans to continue operation with the current employees in West Lafayette, as Jones Metal Products Company, LLC. For more information, visit www.jonesmetal.com.
Category: Business
