Ohio Works: Innovation & Industry — Right Here in Champaign County

​From parts that traveled to the moon… to precision components inside your vehicle… to packaging, lighting, machining, electronics, and baking pans used around the world — it all started here.

This February, we’re proud to highlight the incredible industries that were founded and built right here in Champaign County. These companies didn’t just grow — they shaped global markets while staying rooted in our community.

Manufacturing matters. Innovation lives here. And Ohio works because Champaign County works.

KTH Parts Industries — 40 Years Strong in Champaign County

When it comes to innovation and industry in Champaign County, KTH Parts Industries stands at the forefront.
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Located in St. Paris since 1985, KTH serves as its North American headquarters and has grown into a global leader in automotive frame component manufacturing. This year, the company proudly celebrates 40 years of innovation, growth, and impact right here at home.

Inside the St. Paris facility, essential structural components are designed and manufactured for major automakers including Honda, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota. From floor frames and door beams to spare tire pans and underbody parts, these critical pieces help ensure vehicle safety and performance across North America. There’s a good chance you’re driving with a part made in Champaign County.

With more than 900 employees, KTH is the largest employer in the county and a major driver of our local economy. Their continued investment in advanced manufacturing keeps Champaign County competitive in today’s global marketplace.
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For four decades, KTH has proven that world-class innovation can thrive right here in rural Ohio. As we celebrate Ohio Works this February, we recognize KTH Parts Industries — proudly rooted in Champaign County and building the future from the ground up.

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Desmond-Stephan Manufacturing Co. — A Century of Precision in Champaign County

For more than 100 years, Desmond-Stephan Manufacturing Company has been quietly shaping industry from right here in Champaign County.

Locally owned and family operated, Desmond-Stephan specializes in producing Grinding Wheel Dressers—essential tools that keep grinding wheels sharp, precise, and performing at their best. These small but mighty tools play a critical role in manufacturing operations across the country and around the world.

But their innovation doesn’t stop there. Desmond-Stephan also manufactures scarifying cutters, used in construction, surface preparation, cleaning applications, and even underwater. One unique use? Helping divers remove barnacles from the bottoms of boats—proof that Champaign County craftsmanship reaches places you might never expect.

A Chamber member for over a century, Desmond-Stephan represents more than manufacturing excellence. They represent longevity, local leadership, and a deep-rooted commitment to community.

As we celebrate Ohio Works: Innovation and Industry this February, we recognize Desmond-Stephan Manufacturing Co.—a company built on tradition, powered by precision, and proudly producing in Champaign County for more than a century.

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Ultra-Met — Precision, Performance, and Pride in Urbana
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Since 1965, Ultra-Met has proudly called Urbana home. Through decades of growth and change, one thing has remained constant—their commitment to excellence as the leading independent American manufacturer of custom-molded tungsten carbide products.

With a team of 90 skilled employees, Ultra-Met produces premium-quality blanks, inserts, ISO designation blanks, and solid carbide rods used by toolmakers and fabricators across the globe. These high-performance components are essential in industries where precision is everything.

From aerospace and automotive to oil & gas, mining, and woodworking, Ultra-Met products help power some of the world’s most demanding industries. Their craftsmanship supports innovation on a global scale—while remaining firmly rooted in Champaign County.

As we celebrate Ohio Works: Innovation and Industry this February, we recognize Ultra-Met’s nearly 60 years of resilience, precision, and impact—proving once again that world-class manufacturing thrives right here in Urbana, Ohio.

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Bundy Baking Solutions — A Legacy of Innovation in Urbana

​Innovation has been rising in Urbana for decades—thanks in part to Bundy Baking Solutions.
In 1972, just eight years after its founding, Bundy expanded to Urbana to keep pace with rapid growth. By 1985, the company launched American Pan right here in our community, introducing high-quality, custom-engineered baking pans that helped transform the commercial baking industry.

Today, Bundy continues to design and manufacture precision-crafted pans of all shapes and sizes—from muffin pans to deep-drawn specialty pans—produced right here in Urbana, Ohio. Their products support bakeries and food production operations across the country and around the world.
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And their impact is close to home. Bundy pans can even be found locally, including at the Champaign County Chamber of 

Commerce office—proof that Urbana-made innovation is both globally respected and locally appreciated.
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As we celebrate Ohio Works: Innovation and Industry this February, we recognize Bundy Baking Solutions for its decades of ingenuity, growth, and craftsmanship—built in Urbana and shared with the world.

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The Hall Company — From Urbana to the Moon

What began in a basement in 1961 grew into something truly out of this world. By 1963, The Hall Company had moved into its Urbana facility, launching a legacy of innovation that would eventually reach far beyond Champaign County.

Originally producing metal nameplates, foil labels, printed lenses, and control panels, the company quickly established itself as a precision manufacturer. Early in its history, The Hall Company made a remarkable contribution to America’s space program—supplying components for NASA’s Gemini and Apollo missions. In 1969, a Hall Company part even traveled to the moon aboard the Lunar Rover.

Their innovation didn’t stop there. In the 1980s, they partnered with Walt Disney World to create controls for its iconic monorails—another example of Urbana craftsmanship supporting world-class experiences.
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​Today, The Hall Company remains locally owned and family operated, specializing in collision sensors, membrane and capacitive switches, printed electronics, and custom graphical overlays, nameplates, and labels. Their products serve industries around the globe while staying firmly rooted in Champaign County.

As we celebrate Ohio Works: Innovation and Industry this February, we recognize The Hall Company—a business whose precision, ingenuity, and global impact prove that even a small-town start can reach the stars.

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Rosewood Machine & Tool — Precision Powered by People
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What began as a tractor repair shop in Rosewood grew into a world-class machining operation. Just two years after opening his shop, Duane Helman founded Rosewood Machine & Tool (RMT)—and more than 50 years later, the family business continues to thrive in Champaign County.

Now led alongside Helman’s sons and supported by a talented team of 40 employees, RMT has built a reputation for quality, precision, and exceptional customer service. Their precision-machined parts serve clients ranging from small businesses to major manufacturers including Honda of America, KTH Parts Industries, and Copeland Corporation.

ISO 9001:2015 certified since 1999, RMT handles everything from prototypes and small production runs to manufacturing in the millions. 

​They’re also known for stepping in when it matters most—providing emergency machining support when critical equipment breaks down.
Blending tradition with innovation, RMT even crafts replacement exhaust parts for antique tractors (1940 and older), shipping Champaign County-made products to customers in England, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, and beyond.

At its core, Rosewood Machine & Tool is powered by people—a dedicated team committed to craftsmanship, customer care, and training the next generation of machinists.
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As we celebrate Ohio Works: Innovation and Industry this February, we recognize RMT’s decades of precision, service, and global impact—all proudly rooted in Champaign County.

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ColePak — Protecting Products, Powering Industry

Founded in 1987, ColePak is a proud multigenerational family business that has grown into a national leader in interior packaging solutions. From their impressive 290,000-square-foot facility in Urbana—the largest single partition manufacturing plant in the nation—ColePak designs and produces custom partitions that protect products across North America.

Every partition is engineered to meet precise specifications and tailored to customer needs. Whether utilizing the value of chipboard, the stacking strength of corrugated, or the durability of plastic, ColePak delivers solutions built for performance and reliability.

​Their products serve a wide range of industries, including glass and ceramics, food and beverage, medical and pharmaceutical, automotive and precision parts, electronics, and more. From factory floor to final destination, ColePak helps ensure products arrive safely and securely.

As we celebrate Ohio Works: Innovation and Industry this February, we recognize ColePak’s ongoing commitment to quality, customization, and innovation—protecting products nationwide, all from right here in Champaign County.

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Hughey & Phillips — Lighting the Way From Urbana to the World​

From its headquarters in Urbana, Hughey & Phillips plays an important role in safety and infrastructure worldwide.

Hughey & Phillips is a global leader in designing and manufacturing airport and obstruction lighting systems that keep communities and transportation networks safe. Their products include advanced lighting solutions for airfields, tall structures like towers and wind turbines, and a full range of obstruction lights that meet rigorous industry and FAA standards.

Built on decades of expertise in electrical equipment manufacturing, the company’s Urbana team supports customers across aviation, communication, and utilities markets with reliable, engineered lighting systems and controls. Their work helps enhance safety, visibility, and performance—no matter where their products are installed.

​As we spotlight Ohio Works: Innovation and Industry this February, we honor Hughey & Phillips for illuminating the path forward with quality solutions manufactured right here in Champaign County.

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Sarica Manufacturing Co — Customized Electronics, Champaign County Made

Founded in Urbana, Sarica Manufacturing Co has become a trusted provider of custom electronics and electro-mechanical solutions right from the heart of Champaign County. Sarica designs and manufactures high-precision circuit card assemblies, custom cable assemblies, harnesses, and other electronic components tailored to customer specifications.

Serving a wide array of industries—including aerospace, defense, medical, industrial, and automotive—Sarica brings advanced contract manufacturing and design support to clients near and far. With a dedicated team working from their Urbana facility, the company delivers quality products that meet the strict requirements of global markets, from North America to Europe and beyond.

What started as a local electronics venture has grown into an internationally connected partner in complex manufacturing—proving that Champaign County craftsmanship can power innovation on a world stage.
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As we highlight Ohio Works: Innovation and Industry this February, we celebrate Sarica Manufacturing’s precision, adaptability, and ongoing contributions to advanced technology—built right here in Urbana.