American Hammer
americanhammer.com
Year founded: 1952
Number of employees: 10
Top official: Ted Leitter, president/ CEO
Company description: The largest U.S. manufacturer of hand-held industrial hammers
Target market: Automotive, aerospace, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, military, municipal, MRO US steel, nuclear power, oil and gas and the plastic industry in general
Company growth: “We’ve grown from a small niche company of just a few hammer lines to the largest OEM 100% made in America industrial hammer manufacturing company with over 650 hammer lines for every metalworking, nonsparking and nonmarring applications. We now satisfy the needs of every major and minor national and international producers of all things metal and gas. We currently have three U.S. patents for our unique safety inspired handle designs with more ideas in the works.”
How did you originally come up with the concept for your product? “Ingenuity. At 19 years old, I talked my way in to be an employee at a very small hammer company and while there, I couldn’t help myself in thinking up better and more efficient ways of production and in turn the overall designs of our product. At 21, I purchased the company and continued with my obsession of achieving ‘the very best,’ which gave birth to really innovative designs in safety …”
G-CODE Holsters
tacticalholsters.com
Year founded: 1997
Number of employees: 60+
Top official: Scott Evans, CEO
Company description: Builds holsters, accessories and tactical gear; products are 100% USA made with U.S.- sourced materials
Target market: Military, law enforcement, civilian, concealed carry and sportsman shooters
Company growth: Edge-Works (G-CODE) began at home; “We quickly outgrew the garage and expanded into a large trailer. From there we moved into a pole barn, then in 2013 to our first real commercial space totaling 12,000 square feet. Today, the company occupies a 60,000-square-foot facility in Burgaw.
How did you originally come up with the concept for your product? “While serving in the Marine Corps I often modified and improved my gear. This became a hobby and a passion and after leaving active duty I continued supplying my friends and various Marines at nearby Camp Lejeune. The hobby eventually became a business.”
What are your future goals for the product? “G-CODE is a solution company. Our purpose has always been to solve problems for our customers. We do this with design and innovation and although our efforts manifest in many great products we never sit back and feel like ‘we have arrived.’ Likewise, execution in our workmanship is paramount in its importance to us and to our customers.”
South Atlantic Services Inc.
southatlanticservices.com
Year founded: 1971
Number of employees: 62 local employees, with about 276 between Wilmington and locations in Houston
Top official: Frank Hamilton III, president/owner
Company description: A Wilmington-headquartered contract manufacturing and packaging company. In addition to its Wilmington location, SAS has three facilities in the Houston area.
Target market: Major oil companies, big-box retailers, automotive aftermarket retail chains, OEMs (new car manufacturers)
Products made locally: Automotive and industrial coolants, diesel exhaust fluids, automotive lubricants and agricultural chemicals
Company growth: “We have gained new customers, expanded geographically and grown from a small employer to over 275 employees.”
Product distribution: The company ships finished goods throughout the United States and internationally to South America, Europe, Mexico and other parts of Central America.
How has your product helped impact the region’s economic development? “The continued demand for our product has allowed us to offer stable employment opportunity for the region.”
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