June 2010 U.S. Senate Candidate Richard Blumenthal Visits Horst Engineering On Friday June 25th, Connecticut Attorney General Blumenthal and a couple of his staff members visited our East Hartford operations. We were referred by the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology. CCAT is an East Hartford neighbor, and they were asked by Attorney General Blumenthal’s campaign team for a reference to a manufacturer who was using renewable energy.
It was nice of CCAT to think of Horst Engineering, because we are a 64-year-old manufacturer with plants in Connecticut and Guaymas, Sonora, who cares about our energy consumption, and offsets our use with the production of solar power. Attorney General Blumenthal is one of the leading candidates running for the United States Senate seat that is currently held by Christopher Dodd, who is retiring.
Attorney General Blumenthal toured our two East Hartford plants, and met many of our employees. We highlighted a full list of challenges that we face. We focused our discussions with the Attorney General on the precision machining/manufacturing industry, and our core high technology markets of aerospace (aircraft components and hardware) and medical devices (orthopaedics and surgical instruments).
Our 39kW solar PV system went live in January 2009 and last year, we produced 60% of the power needs at our 7000 sq/ft 41 Cedar St. plant--with 128 rooftop panels. In 2010, we are ahead of projections and it was fortuitous that Attorney General Blumenthal’s visit came on a super solar day. Our internet based monitoring system shows that 250.5 kW hours of clean energy were produced on Friday.
- 2009 -
December 2009 East Hartford Fire Displaces Neighboring Businesses Horst Engineering's East Hartford plants were evacuated on Monday December 7th when a massive fire destroyed two adjacent buildings in our neighborhood. No one was hurt in the blaze, one of the largest in East Hartford history. Horst Engineering extends our best wishes to the businesses that were impacted by this terrible disaster. We apologize to our customers and suppliers who could not reach us by phone or e-mail. Utility services were initially impacted, but as of Wednesday morning, all communications were restored. Other than the impact from smoke, soot, and debris, Horst Engineering's two plants avoided any damage. When power returned, we were up and running at full capacity.
Horst Engineering extends its deepest gratitude to the emergency personnel who were on the scene. The firefighters deserve special thanks for their efforts to minimize the property damage and to keep everyone safe.
View photos taken by Horst Engineering, click here.
The Hartford Courant covered the event. For information and photos, click here.
December 2009 CBIA Manufacturing Conference On December 3rd, Horst Engineering participated in the Connecticut Business & Industry Association Manufacturing Conference. “On the line: The State of Manufacturing in Connecticut, “ was billed as a forum for manufacturers to join forces and voices to strengthen manufacturing. The conference was about rallying manufacturers to speak out on behalf of industry in an effort to highlight the critical importance of manufacturing jobs to the welfare of our state and our country. Several speakers shared their thoughts about the manufacturing economy and the challenges that manufacturers in Connecticut face. Manufacturing is under siege across the country, in Mexico, and elsewhere. Horst Engineering strongly supports manufacturing issues and relies on the CBIA and our other industry associations to represent us. We urge other manufacturers to engage with their industry groups and to voice their concerns to the policy makers in their communities, at the state level, and at the federal level. It is an old cliche that manufacturing is the backbone of an economy, but there is much truth to the statement. Our company's 63 year history has overlapped many business down cycles, and the benefits of manufacturing have helped return growth to our economy time and time again.
November 2009 ISO9001:2008 Registration Achieved On November 19th, Horst Engineering successfully culminated the transition process from ISO9001:2000 to the revised standard: ISO9001:2008. The final audit was at Horst Engineering's East Hartford operation. This final audit was scored 100% with no findings, by the third party registrar, NQA, USA. To quote the auditor, "Excellent audit. Your company has demonstrated strong continuous improvement and it is evident that you care about customer satisfaction." The auditor also noted that he was pleased with the involvement of the General Management Team.
This was the second time in 10 years that Horst Engineering has scored 100% on a registration audit. Earlier this month, Horst Engineering de Mexico scored highly on their registration audit. Heading into 2010, Horst Engineering, Horst Engineering de Mexico, and Thread Rolling Inc. are all registered to the most current version of the standard.
In 2010, all three companies will move to the new revision of the AS9100 standard when those revisions are finalized. The companies are also working towards the ISO13485 standard, which is common in the medical device industry.
A new ISO9001:2008 certificate will be available by February. If you need further information, please contact us. Our current ISO and AS certificates are valid until then and are available by clicking here.
November 2009 Horst Engineering Sponsors Berlin Bike Adventure Racing Team's World Championships Bid The Berlin Bike Adventure Team is composed of four elite New England athletes. Ernie Lawas, Ben Moore, and Fritjof Parmeijer are all from Connecticut. Jenny Johnson is from New Hampshire. All four athletes are friends of Team Horst Sports. The four will battle 69 other teams at the Adventure Race World Championships in Portugal November 8-13. A recent story in Hartford Magazine highlights the team's accomplishments.
Horst Engineering is supporting the team's efforts and wishes them luck as they embark on their journey. The race will include orienteering, mountain biking, trekking, climbing, kayaking, roller-blading, and many other challenges. The race will be non-stop over the course of five days. Supporting athletes with a passion for endurance sports is consistent with Horst Engineering's adventurous spirit and competitive culture. Go Berlin Bike!
October 2009 Horst Engineering Participates in 15th Annual Manufacturing in Mexico Summit The 15th Annual Manufacturing in Mexico Summit is being held the week of October 19th in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. Guaymas is also home to Horst Engineering de Mexico. Our Mexican operation is in the middle of the action at this ever popular conference. We will be hosting tours of our operation and networking with manufacturing industry leadeship, Sonoran economic development officials, supply chain partners, and customers.
Mexico's maquiladora industry plays a critical role in the manufacturing supply chains of many major industries, including aerospace, medical, industrial, and automotive. This year's summit is being preceded by a special aerospace industry event focused on the growth of this sector in Mexico. Horst Engineering has operated a maquiladora in Sonora since 2006. Our international scope in the precision machining marketplace has created new opportunites for many of our customers as they work to develop global supply chains.
October 2009 Cyclocross Returns to the Connecticut River Waterfront Several years ago, Horst Engineering was instrumental in bringing the sport of cyclocross to the Connecticut River waterfront, when Team Horst Sports hosted an event at Riverside Park in Hartford. Cyclocross returns to Riverside Park on Sunday October 25th. This time, the event is being promoted by the Central Connecticut Bicycle Alliance and the Connecticut Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association. The venue is managed with help from Riverfront Recapture.
Photo courtesy of Amanda Lawrence
Click here for information about the event, including directions. Cyclocross is the most spectator friendly type of bicycle racing. The discipline requires speed, endurance, and excellent bike handling skillls. Riders negotiate a loop course with both natural and man made obstacles, including steep run ups, mud, sand, and barriers. It has been described as steeplechase on a bike. Horst Engineering is proud to support CCBA, CT-NEMBA, and Riverfront Recapture. Crosstube.net is a great resource for seeing what the sport is all about.
Photo courtesy of Amanda Lawrence
October 2009 Horst Engineering Featured in CBIA Manufacturers Spotlight Horst Engineering is one of the companies featured in the Connecticut Business & Industry Association Manufacturers Spotlight. Leading Connecticut manufacturers are periodically featured on the CBIA website's business page. Horst Engineering was featured in early October. The full directory of Connecticut manufacturers who support international trade can be found at this link.
August 2009 Interview on Connecticut Newsmakers with Horst Engineering's Scott Livingston Horst Engineering's third generation President and CEO, Scott Livingston, was interviewed by Tom Monahan on Connecticut Newsmakers, a program on WVIT, Connecticut's NBC affiliate. Monahan, asked a series of questions about the company's history, about our expansion into precision machined medical components, about our solar electric power system, about the economy, and about the impact of the budget deadlock at the State Capitol.
July 2009 Horst Engineering's Solar PV Electric Power System Cranks Out the Watts This past January, Horst Engineering marked the successful commissioning of a 39kW rooftop solar system. After six months, the system has been performing at a high level and has contributed to a dramatic reduction in the company's greenhouse gas emissions. More than half of the electricity demand at the company's renovated 41 Cedar St. plant is satisfied by solar power. Please see our latest news release for details about the system. View the company's online database that shows real time system performance. Make sure you return to this page in case the sun isn't shining!
July 2009 Horst Engineering Featured in the State of Sonora's Economic Development Video Both the State of Connecticut (USA) and the State of Sonora (Mexico) have rich manufacturing heritages. Both states are in regions known for their population's precision manufacturing capabilities and skills. Both Connecticut and Sonora are hubs of activity for the aerospace products industry and the medical devices industry. Connecticut has a well established cluster of precision machining companies and special processes suppliers. Sonora has a similar cluster of companies developing.
Sonora recently produced a video highlighting the unique capabilities of their state. Horst Engineering de Mexico, located in Guaymas, participated in the making of the video. Like Connecticut, Sonora offers customers in aerospace, medical, automotive, and industrial industries with supply chain options. Horst Engineering is proud of its dual capability manufacturing capabilities in the United States and Mexico.
June 2009 Horst Medical Participates in OMTEC, the the Orthopaedic Manufacturing & Technology Exposition and Conference The 2009 OMTEC was held at the Rosemont Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois. Horst Medical, a Horst Engineering business unit that supplies the medical device industry, participated in this 5th annual conference on orthopaedics. Suppliers from the United States and Europe displayed their products and participated in workshops. Horst Medical was launched as a dedicated operation in 2008 and is focused on the precision machining of surgical tooling, orthopaedic implants, and other specialized medical devices. May 2009 CBIA Hosts Manufacturing & Technology Day at the Connecticut State Capitol On May 13th, 40 Manufacturers, including Horst Engineering, displayed at the capitol building in Hartford, Connecticut. The companies were there to promote high technology manufacturing and to share their opinions with the legislators. The Connecticut Business & Industry Association advocates on behalf of the businesses of Connnecticut and plays a particularly important role in supporting the remaining manufacturers in a state that is known for its manufacturing heritage and technological innovation.
Connecticut has had a long history of manufacturing, but Connecticut needs to do more to support industry if manufacturers are going to survive and thrive given the competitive nature of the global economy. Manufacturing & Technology Day garnered some positive attention for manufacturers and the shined a spotlight on the contributions that they have made to the Connecticut, United States, and global economies.
May 2009 Soapstone Mountain Trail Races Supported by Horst Engineering The 25th anniversary of the Soapstone Mountain Trail Races will be held at Shenipsit State Forest in Somers, Connecticut on May 17th. Once again, Horst Engineering is proud to support the event. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Northern Connecticut Land Trust and the Connecticut Forest & Park Association. Soapstone is promoted by the Shenipsit Striders Running Club. April 2009 Horst Engineering de Mexico Achieves ISO9001:2000 and AS9100 Registration Horst Engineering de Mexico earned its ISO9001:2000 and AS9100 certificate on April 9, 2009 following a successful registration audit with external auditior, National Quality Assurance, at its Guaymas, Sonora operation. The entire HEDM team is proud of this success because registration marks the maturation of the company's quality management system. HEDM joins Horst Engineering & Manufacturing Co. and Thread Rolling Inc. who have been registered since December 2000. All three entities will be registered to the latest revision of the standard, ISO9001:2008, by year end.
Horst Engineering de Mexico is a contract manufacturer of precision machined components for aerospace, medical, and other high technology industries. View the certificate.
April 2009 Horst Engineering Featured in CBIA News The April 2009 issue of CBIA News, The Journal of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, published a story with tips on how to survive and thrive in a recession. Horst Engineering was one of the companies featured in the article. View the complete newsletter.
Horst Engineering supports the CBIA and its advocacy for Connecticut's businesses.
March 2009 Horst Engineering Featured in Today's Machining World Today's Machining World is one of the precision parts industry's leading publications. View the story or view the complete March issue.
March 2009 Horst-Benidorm-PRC Cycling Team Launches 2009 Campaign Horst Engineering and Thread Rolling Inc. have supported competitive amateur cycling since 1997. 2009 marks the third year that Horst Engineering is title sponsor of the Horst Engineering-Benidorm Bikes-Property Research Corp. Masters Cycling Team. Team members have a full slate of events planned including several state and regional championship races.
You can follow the team's exploits through their blog. The team also receives generous support from Benidorm Bikes, Property Research Corp., Charles Coaching & Nutrition Services, Cannondale, SRAM, Rudy Project, Tufo North America, Voler Team Apparel, and Ralph Rookey Photography. Learn more about the team and Horst Engineering's support of adventure sports.
March 2009 Horst Engineering Featured in Hartford Business Journal A cover story about Horst Engineering's growth and investments was published in the March 2nd edition of the Hartford Business Journal.
February 2009 Horst Engineering Featured in Journal Inquirer A feature article about Horst Engineering was published in the Journal Inquirer, one of Connecticut's largest daily newspapers. Please click this link to see the story.
February 2009 Horst Engineering's Solar Electric Power System Goes Live Horst Engineering has entered the world of clean energy production through the commissioning of a 39kW Solar Photovoltaic Electric Power System. Located on the roof of our 41 Cedar Street plant in East Hartford, Connecticut; the system will generate approximately 43,000 kW hours of electricity on an annual basis. This should offset 35%-45% of our annual consumption at that plant site. 128 solar panels collect sunshine and produce the clean energy.
The solar installation was part of a larger renovation of the 41 Cedar plant. The 49 year old, 7,000 sq/ft building was substantially modernized to accommodate high technology manufacturing processes. The building boasts the latest in efficient lighting, compressed air, and HVAC technologies. Grants to offset green building technologies were obtained through Northeast Utilities. The solar power system was also made possible by a grant from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund.
Horst Engineering is proud of its commitment to the environment, symbolized by our leading edge investment in clean solar energy production.
January 2009 Horst Engineering Expands in Mexico; Increases Recruiting Drive in Connnecticut EAST HARTFORD, CT, Jan. 26, 2009 -- Horst Engineering and Manufacturing Co., today announced it will establish a new facility in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, substantially expanding its capacity for the manufacturing of close tolerance precision machined aerospace and medical components. At the same time, the company said it is increasing its recruiting drive in Connecticut, seeking to add experienced manufacturing employees to handle anticipated sales growth, particularly in the aerospace and medical products industries.
The company has contracted with The Offshore Group to lease 18,326 square feet of industrial space at the Roca Fuerte Industrial Park in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, about five hours south of the border with the United States. When fully staffed, Horst Engineering de Mexico will employ approximately 50 individuals at the new facility in Guaymas, home to one of Mexico’s fastest growing clusters of aerospace products manufacturers. The factory will replace a smaller Horst Engineering facility at Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. About half of the employees from the Nogales operation will move to the Guaymas facility.
“The new factory helps us lay the groundwork for future expansion and will allow us to develop new relationships with customers – relationships we expect will benefit the operations in Connecticut as well as in Mexico,” said Scott Livingston, Horst Engineering President and CEO, “The Guaymas facility is close to a number of existing and potential customers, both in Mexico and the U.S. Southwest. Also, it increases our international presence, an increasingly important consideration for a number of our customers.”
“We expect that this expansion, with its concurrent additional manufacturing capabilities, will help attract new business for both the Guaymas and the East Hartford operations,” he added.
Horst Engineering, founded in 1946, is a contract manufacturer of precision machined components and assemblies for high technology industries. Its core processes include Swiss screw machining, turning, milling, thread rolling, centerless grinding, and assembly.
The Offshore Group is the largest provider of outsourced manufacturing support, or “shelter,” services in Mexico. It has been enabling companies to establish and maintain production facilities in Mexico since 1986.
Back to Top - 2008 - November 2008 Horst Engineering Acquires Crystal Precision, LLC On 11/1/2008, Horst Engineering acquired Crystal Precision, a Massachusetts based contract manufacturer of precision machined components for the medical, industrial, and aerospace industries. Horst Engineering will take over the servicing of Crystal's customers. Scott Livingston, Horst Engineering's President, said, "We are excited about the opportunity to gain new customers in several diverse high precision markets." Horst Engineering's medical components business will operate from a dedicated space at our newly renovated 41 Cedar Street plant, and will be known as Horst Medical. "Horst Engineering is primed to share our capabilities and to discuss how we can deliver even more value to Crystal's customers," said Livingston.
Horst Engineering is a 62 year old contract manufacturer of precision machined components and assemblies for high technology industries. Our core processes include Swiss screw machining, turning, milling, roll threading, centerless grinding, and assembly.
September 2008 Horst Spikes Cyclocross season is here and that means that folks from New England to Belgium will be riding and running on cross courses, often in the mud. When they dismount, they will need a positive grip with the ground, and that is where Horst Spikes shine.
In 2007, Horst Engineering prototyped a high strength stainless steel version of the venerable cyclocross toe spike. In 2008, we have produced a full production run. Horst Engineering has had a long history with the cycling industry. We have produced various components for the industry since our inception in 1946. Our founder apprenticed at a bicycle factory in Germany in the early 1930's. Since 1997, Horst Engineering has sponsored elite amateur cycling and adventure sports teams. We don't have to look any further than our own employee base for product testers.
Our employees say that Horst Spikes work, and you won't find a better spike on the market.
September 2008 Horst Engineering Awarded $153,167 Connecticut Clean Energy Fund Grant for Onsite Renewable Energy Project Horst Engineering is installing a 39kW solar PV system on its renovated 41 Cedar Street plant in East Hartford, Connecticut. The system should produce 42,500 kilowatt hours of clean energy on an annual basis. Solar generation should account for 30% to 40% of the power consumption at the 41 Cedar plant location. The grant offsets the significant cost of the solar project and provides a valuable incentive to produce clean power.
The newly renovated building increases our East Hartford plant space by 33% and is not yet at capacity. The building, which was renovated with numerous energy saving and environmentally sustainable features; will eventually house Thread Rolling Inc.'s roll threading operations, and Horst Engineering's centerless grinding processes. There will also be an expanded tool room and a research and development incubator.
The solar project is underway and scheduled for completion in November.
August 2008 Arthur Roti Named a 40 Under Forty Winner Horst Engineering's Vice President of Operations, Arthur Roti, was named one of Connecticut's 2008 40 Under Forty award recipients by the Hartford Business Journal. Roti started at Horst Engineering in 1997 and has rotated through various positions and is now a member of the company's General Management Team.
The Hartford Business Journal has been honoring up-and-coming executives and business leaders since 1996. Roti joins an impressive list of current and past award winners. Award recipients are nominated by colleagues and friends, then chosen with the help of an independent panel of business leaders. Both business and social achievements are important criteria for selection.
Serving NEMBA, his efforts have promoted the sport, exposed more people to healthy activities, maintained trails, and educated others on the benefits of cycling. He has a B.S. from the University of Connecticut School of Engineering and earned an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Lally School of Management & Technology.
August 2008 Hydrogen Road Tour 2008 Rolls Into East Hartford The Hydrogen Road Tour 2008 rolled into East Hartford, Connecticut on Tuesday, August 12th. The Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology Inc. hosted the event, which was great for the town of East Hartford. Long known as the home of Pratt & Whitney Aircraft and their jet engine products, East Hartford has put itself on the fuel cell map in a big time way. A lot of the credit still goes to Hartford based United Technologies Corporation, the parent of both PWA and UTC Power (formerly known as International Fuel Cells/ONSI). CCAT got help from the Connecticut Hydrogen-Fuel Cell Coalition, the California Fuel Cell Partnership and the National Hydrogen Association, in its promotion of this advanced transportation technology.
As a long time supplier of precision machined components to the fuel cell and power generation industries, Horst Engineering, another long time East Hartford enterprise, was invited to participate in the program. The stars of the show were the fuel cell powered automobiles and bus, but several suppliers to the industry and pioneers of the technology were asked to display their products for the various industry executives, local/state politicians, dignitaries, and media. Horst Engineering supplies a variety of components to fuel cell manufacturers, including tie rods, bushings, couplings, fittings, fasteners, and other custom components made from plastic, stainless steel, and titanium. The titanium tie rods that Horst Engineering makes for the PEM stacks are an essential component. It nice to be involved in the development stage of an important “new” technology.
July 2008 Thread Rolling Inc. Joins 1% For The Planet More than 900 companies have joined 1% For The Planet, and Thread Rolling Inc., is now one of them. Founded in 2002, 1% For The Planet has inspired members of the business community to contribute 1% of sales to environmental groups around the world. Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, owner of Blue Ribbon Flies, created 1% For The Planet to encourage more businesses to support environmental groups. The mission is "Use market forces to drive positive environmental change by inspiring companies to give." Membership is just one of the ways that Thread Rolling Inc. and Horst Engineering have improved our sustainable business practices.
June 2008 Horst Engineering/Livingston Family Honored for Multi-Generation Legacy At it's Annual Meeting on the 26th of June, the East Hartford Chamber of Commerce presented an outstanding performance achievement award to Horst Engineering and the Livingston Family, in recognition of our 62 years in business. For the last 58 of those years, Horst Engineering has been headquartered in East Hartford, Connecticut. Two other long time East Hartford based business-owning families were similarly honored. The Hoffman Family of Hoffman Auto Group and the McClellan Clan of The Olde Burnside Brewing Company and The Great Burnside Ice Co.
Mary Beth Reid, Executive Director of the Chamber, cited Horst Engineering's three generation legacy as a contributing factor to the company's success. She recognized founder, Harry Livingston for his immigrant vision. She cited the work of Harry's three sons, Stanley, Steven, and Bert; and of his daughter-in-law, Lynn. Third generation President, Scott Livingston, accepted the award and explained how all Horst Engineering associates have contributed to the growth and success. Horst Engineering is known for having the the special values and culture that are unique to family businesses, while operating with professional management practices. The company appreciates the honor of the award and thanks the East Hartford Chamber of Commerce for its 93 years of service to the community.
June 2008 Today's Machining World Cover Story Horst Engineering CEO, Scott Livingston, wrote the cover story for the June issue. The story is about SRAM Corp., a Chicago based leader in the global bicycle components industry. SRAM has grown dramatically and operates six manufacturing plants in Germany, Portugal, Taiwan, and China. Horst Engineering has had a long association with the bicycle industry. Horst founder, Harry Livingston, learned much of his tool & die and engineering skills as an apprentice at a German bicycle manufacturer in the 1920's. Today, Horst Engineering sponsors the Horst Engineering-Benidorm Bikes-Property Research Corp. Cycling Team. The team competes in amateur road cycling, mountain biking, and cyclocross events throughout the United States.
April 2008 Focus on Workforce Development Increases The Aerospace Component Manufacturers had a successful trade show at the end of March. The morning session was devoted to workforce development. Representatives from Connecticut high schools and community colleges visited with the manufacturers and saw first hand how high tech the aerospace business really is. Member companies shared information about their products and processes. It was very clear to the guidance counselors, teachers, and administrators that there are wonderful career opportunities in precision manufacturing. Students of all levels can find good jobs in precision machining companies. Horst Engineering is committed to working with area schools in order to demonstrate how exciting a career in manufacturing can be. The company offers tours and internships. The workforce development focus continues on June 3rd with the CBIA Manufacture Your Careers Expo.
February 2008 Horst Engineering to Participate in Upcoming Trade Shows March is trade show month. On March 18th, the Connecticut Tooling & Machining Association will host their 9th annual Capabilities Showcase. The CTMA advocates for Connecticut's precision machining industry. Each year, the members get together to network and share their capabilities with each other. CTMA is the Connecticut Chapter of the National Tooling & Machining Association.
On March 27th, the Aerospace Component Manufacturers will host their 2008 trade show in Windsor, Connecticut. The morning session will be devoted to workforce development issues. The afternoon session will be geared towards business development. The ACM has grown to 56 members and is the leading Connecticut based industry organization focused on the aerospace products manufacturing marketplace. The organization is making an effort to increase awareness regarding the shortage of skilled workers in the industry. ACM companies represent the cutting edge of manufacturing capabilities and are proof that manufacturing is a tremendously important sector of the USA and global economies.
Please contact sales@horstengineering.com if you are curious about these upcoming exhibitions or if you are interested in hearing more about Horst Engineering's role in increasing awareness of our core industries.
January 2008 Horst Engineering Launches Branding Campaign In 2008, Horst Engineering will celebrate 62 years in business. In celebration, we have launched a branding campaign. The campaign was recently kicked off with the unveiling of a modernized logomark. Throughout 2008, we will unveil additional aspects of this initiative and we will further enhance our internet prescence.
- 2007 - October/November 2007 Horst Engineering to Sponsor Forces of Nature On November 9, 2007, the Connecticut Forest & Park Association will present Forces of Nature, a staged dramatic reading, at the Belding Theatre at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts. The Bushnell is located in Hartford, Connecticut. The CFPA is the oldest private non-profit environmental organization in Connecticut. Horst Engineering supports several New England based organizations who focus their efforts on environmental conservation, education, and recreation. The CFPA's mission, which includes responsible forestry, the preservation of trails, promotion of parks, land preservation, and environmental education, is something that Horst Engineering is proud to support.
Click here to learn more about the performance. September 2007 Horst Engineering Featured in The Gateway The September edition of The Gateway, a New England based purchasing guide, featured Horst Engineering on their cover. The Gateway is published monthly and sent to 7,500 companies in the precision metalworking industry.
June 2007 Green Team Launched Horst Engineering has kicked off an effort to evaluate the sustainability of its business practices. A recently formed, "Green Team" is looking at the environmental impacts resulting from the company's business methods. The company plans to report in the future that its increased commitment to the environment has resulted in decreasing some of the negative impacts of manufacturing. The company is committed to achieving financial success that permits reinvestment, but also is committed to our environmental stewardship.
Aspects of the Horst Green Team’s scope:
• Educate our fellow associates. • Identify waste streams (e.g. packaging, paper, chemicals, etc.) • Identify environmentally friendly alternatives. • Develop and promote a comprehensive recycling program. • Benchmark sustainable business practices. • Evaluate and promote energy conservation (e.g. electricity, oil, gas, etc.). • Explore clean power alternatives. • Understand and reduce the company’s carbon footprint. • Improve the work environment. • Share success with the supply chain. • Communicate our values.
June 2007 Horst-Benidorm-Property Research Corp. Cycling Team Excels Horst Engineering has sponsored elite amateur cycling since 1997. 2007 marks the 10th anniversary of our support. A team of Masters 35+ cyclists have been tearing up the roads and trails in 2007.
L to R: Matt Domnarski, Ed Angeli, Thom Reid, Scott Livingston, Wayne Prescott, Zane Wenzel, Paul Nyberg, Art Roti, Ted D’Onofrio, Brian Wirtz, Gary Aspnes, Wade Summers.
The team has garnered several top placings in road and mountain events, but more importantly, they have demonstrated the incredible teamwork and sportsmanship that is consistent with the values of Horst Engineering.
Laura Summers wins the Cyclonauts Criterium at Stafford Motor Speedway.
May 2007 2007 Soapstone Mountain Trail Races Are a Big Success Full results of the Soapstone Mountain Trail Race can be found at www.shenipsitstriders.org. Additional information about the New England Grand Tree Trail Running Series and other races can be found at www.runwmac.com. Horst Engineering will be supporting again in 2008.
April/May 2007 Horst Engineering Supports the Shenipsit Striders and Others Horst Engineering has a long history of supporting community events. Notably, the company recently supported the Officer Brian A. Aselton Memorial Snow Dash 3.05 Mile Road Race. Run in East Hartford, CT, every January, the Company has supported this race six years in a row. The race benefits the Officer Brian A. Aselton Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Horst Engineering has also been a long time supporter of the Shenipsit Striders epic trail running race, the Soapstone Mountain Trail Race. This year, the 24km race (and 6km sampler) will be held on May 20th in Somers, CT. Click here for the 2007 Race Flyer. Soapstone is one of the longest running trail races in New England and benefits the Reddington Rock Riding Club and a college scholarship fund for young runners. Horst Engineering is proud to support healthy activities.
March 2007 Horst Engineering Displays at ACM Trade Show The Aerospace Components Manufacturers (ACM) held their annual trade show in Windsor, CT on March 21st. Horst Engineering was well represented among Connecticut’s elite aerospace component manufacturers. Al Samuel, ACM Executive Director, said, “This year’s theme, Managing the Changing Marketplace through Cooperation, conveys the need for members to cooperate with each other and our customers to strengthen our position in the world market.” Horst Engineering is proud to be a member of the ACM.
Ralph Lapio (Sales Manager) and Arthur Roti (Vice President, Operations) with the Horst display.
The ACM is a network of Connecticut’s independent aerospace manufacturers. We serve the world’s aerospace companies with precision components and manufacturing support services.
Horst Engineering also recently displayed at the Connecticut Tooling & Machining Association (CTMA) Trade Show, held in Rocky Hill, CT. The CTMA is the Connecticut Chapter of the National Tooling & Machining Association (NTMA) a national association of precision manufacturers. Horst Engineering is proud to be a member of the CTMA and the NTMA.
February 2007 Revisiting the UCONN Family Business Awards It has been more than 6 years since Horst Engineering was honored by the University of Connecticut School of Business, as one of the top family businesses in Connecticut. In 1999, we took first place in the competition. We are thrilled to be considered one of Connecticut’s best and proud to be associated with the past winners. 124 family firms have been honored by the UCONN since the honor was established 12 years ago. We believe that 6 years later, we have done even more to improve our business and to share the best practices that have distinguished us for 61 years.
Priscilla Cale, UCONN Family Business Program Director wrote us recently, “Over the past 12 years, the University of Connecticut Family Business Program has presented the annual Connecticut Family Business of the Year Awards to ever-growing acclaim. As a past honoree, you may recall that the awards ceremony celebrates those family firms that embody core family values and the best of American free enterprise. Those in the Connecticut business community are proud of your accomplishments and contributions and all that you do to better our communities, our prospects for jobs, our prospects for security, and our prospects for wellbeing.”
University of Connecticut Family Business Program 2100 Hillside Road, Unit 1041 Storrs, CT 06269-1041 USA
University based education for family businesses has improved dramatically in recent years. For more information about family business education, you can learn more from these resources:
January 2007 Horst Engineering Launches International Expansion Horst Engineering announces the introduction of a maquiladora operation in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico. View Press Release.
Back to Top - 2006 - October 2006 Horst Engineering Celebrates 60 Years in Business On 14th October, Horst Engineering hosted a 60th Anniversary Celebration at Riverside Park in Hartford, Connecticut. Horst Associates and their families enjoyed an incredible day that combined a healthy dose of fun with the kickoff of the Horst Engineering Service Awards Program. During a ceremony at the Greater Hartford Jaycees Community Boathouse, each associate with five or more years of service, was honored for their commitment to Horst Engineering. It was a special day for everyone involved and a day to celebrate everything that is great about business owning families and the benefit that they have on our economy. Horst Engineering's third generation President and CEO, Scott Livingston, spoke about the values that were instilled by company founder, Harry Livingston (born Horst Liebenstein) and read a citation that had been presented to the Company by the Connecticut General Assembly honoring sixty years in business.
The site of the party was chosen to draw attention to the awesome impact that Riverfront Recapture has had on the Connecticut River over the past twenty five years. The party was also held on a day when there was tremendous excitement in the Greater Hartford area because of the Hartford Marathon, the University of Connecticut Football Game at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Trinity College Parents’ Weekend, and a host of other community events that benefited from the glorious autumn weather.
The Greater Hartford Jaycees Community Boathouse is a beautiful facility and Tallulah’s Catering did a fabulous job with the food. Magician, Tom O’Brien, kept everyone laughing, and for the children in attendance, there was a large inflatable “bouncy slide”. But, the real hit was the Riverfront Adventure Challenge Course. Everyone loved the High Ropes, Climbing Tower, and Zip Line. If you were a participant, you expanded your horizons and built the confidence necessary to complete each new challenge. If you were watching, you had some hilarious laughs. It was a blast for everyone and a great day to be part of the Horst Engineering community.
August 2006 TRI Featured in TMW Thread Rolling Inc. was featured in the August 2006 issue of Today's Machining World one of the leading magazines of the precision parts industry. TRI and Horst Engineering President and CEO, Scott Livingston, wrote the article for the monthly "How It Works" feature. The article, "Precision Thread Rolling: Squeezing metal into jewel-like thread" is a primer on the basics of the thread forming process. Click here to view the full article. Livingston is a frequent contributor to the magazine. He authored the cover article for the November/December 2005 issue titled “The Reemergence of the U.S. Bicycle Industry”. Click here to view the full article.
May 2006 New Website Launched Horst Engineering has launched its new website design. Scott Livingston, President and CEO of Horst Engineering said, “We wanted to showcase the full range of our contract manufacturing capabilities. 2006 is Horst Engineering’s 60th year in business and the time was right to update our internet presence by creating a new look for the World Wide Web. The new website represents the company’s broad range of products and services.”
Founded in 1946 by Harry Horst Livingston, Horst Engineering is a contract manufacturer of precision machined components and assemblies for aerospace and other high technology industries.
April 2006 CFPA WalkConnecticut Program Horst Engineering sponsored “A Walk in the Park”, a benefit in support of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association’s WalkConnecticut initiative. The benefit was held at the Wadsworth Mansion at Long Hill Estate in Middletown, Connecticut. The Connecticut Forest & Park Association developed WalkConnecticut to promote individual health, invite trail tourism, and foster lifelong connection with the land. WalkConnecticut will bring an interconnected web of well-marked accessible urban, suburban, and rural trails to the neighborhoods of every home in the state, encouraging habitual walking as a choice for life. The Association brings to bear its long experience as founder and conservator of the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails in creating WalkConnecticut as a public service, free of charge for all. The Connecticut Forest and Park Association is the oldest private non-profit environmental organization in Connecticut.
Horst Engineering is proud to support the Connecticut Forest & Park Association.
January 2006 Press Release Connecticut Tooling and Machining Association Announces Board of Directors for 2006
Alan Ortner, of Sirois Tool Company in Berlin has been elected to serve a second term as President of the Association. He has served on the CTMA Board of Directors for the past six years and is also chair to the Executive Committee. Other individuals elected to the Executive Board include: Trustee, John Salce, of Hygrade Precision Technologies, Inc.; Vice President, Bruce Dworak of Hobson & Motzer, Inc. in Durham; Secretary Jeff Bodeau, of Signature Mold & Manufacturing in Hartford and Treasurer Dave Segal of Edward Segal, Inc., in Thomaston.
Others elected to the CTMA Board of Directors: Jay Bailey of Fischer Precision Spindles in Berlin; Peter Kelly of Kell-Strom Tool Company in Wethersfield; Michael Pines of Technical Tool Supply in South Company in Middletown; Jim Bowtruczyk of Horst Engineering in East Hartford.
The CTMA, the Connecticut Chapter of the National Tooling & Machining Association (NTMA), provides its members tangible resources to help compete in today’s economy with services including: sales and marketing and lean manufacturing assistance, cost effective business insurance, benchmarking surveys, and a plethora of networking opportunities for companies in the precision custom manufacturing industry. For more information, visit their website at www.ct-ntma.org.
December 2005 Horst Engineering joins the ACM Horst Engineering joined the Aerospace Components Manufacturers, a private non-profit industry network that is part of the State of Connecticut cluster initiative. Membership in the ACM will benefit the company through networking, marketing, skills training, lobbying, and progressive manufacturing training opportunities. ACM is comprised of a group of esteemed Connecticut manufacturers.
December 2005 East Hartford Community Shelter Holiday Drive For the third year in a row, Horst Engineering held a successful food, clothing, and toy drive on behalf of the East Hartford Community Shelter. In addition to the gift items a cash contribution was made from donations and the profits of the Hot Sausage & Pepper luncheon. The associates of Horst Engineering once again rose to the challenge to help those who are less fortunate.
October 2005 Horst Open House Horst Engineering held an Open House for Family & Friends on Saturday, October 29th. More than 125 people toured the plant, enjoyed refreshments, and spent time with co-workers during a fun morning. Guests took self-guided tours of the plant. Folks were impressed with the cleanliness and organization of our factory. They were amazed with the high tech machines and processes. Each guest witnessed a sequence of manufacturing processes. Each step on the walking tour was a process in the production of a precision ball point pen set. Upon completion, guests had their pens packaged on the Autobagger. The pen set was a great demonstration of Horst Engineering’s sophisticated capabilities.
October 2005 Red Cross Disaster Relief/IMC In an effort to help the people of the Gulf Coast region, stricken by Hurricane Katrina, Horst Engineering associates held a fund drive. All funds raised were donated to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The company matched the employee donation. A second company donation was made to International Medical Corps. The associates of Horst Engineering stepped up to help people who were in need.
September 2005 Horst Engineering Joins the CTMA and NTMA Horst Engineering joined the Connecticut Tooling & Machining Association, the local chapter of the National Tooling & Machining Association. The Connecticut Tooling and Machining Association was founded in 1943 as a founding chapter of the NTMA. It has prospered as an organization dedicated to the professionalism and continuous improvement of its member companies. CTMA members, the owners and managers of contract tooling and machining companies in Connecticut, represent some the finest shops in the U.S.
The NTMA is the national representative of the custom precision manufacturing industry in the United States. Many NTMA members are small businesses, privately owned and operated, yet the industry generates sales in excess of $40 billion a year. NTMA’s nearly 2000 members design and manufacture special tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, gages, special machines, and precision machined parts. Some firms specialize in experimental research and development work.
The tooling and machining industry is critical to our country's economic health as it makes possible the existence of virtually every other manufacturing industry. Tooling is, in its simplest sense, the means of production. "Special" tooling, such as dies and molds, is custom designed and made to manufacture specific products, generally in quantity, and to desired levels of uniformity, accuracy, interchangeability, and quality. Machining involves the use of a wide variety of machine tools to cut or form material, usually metal, to precise shapes and dimensions.
NTMA member companies use the full range of machine tools and related equipment, ranging from small automatic lathes for miniature parts, to enormous boring mills. The industry is probably the most technologically-advanced of all small manufacturing activities, and enjoys widespread deployment of computer-numerically-controlled (CNC) machines and other computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) techniques.
Our industry supplies the necessary precision tooling and machining for such vital industries as defense, automotive, aerospace, appliance, business machines, electronics, agricultural implements, ordnance, transportation, environmental, construction equipment, nuclear, and many more. In point of fact, nearly every manufacturer does business at one time or another with the contract tooling and machining industry.
NTMA members are organized into 49 local federated chapters and tool centers throughout the country.
June 2005 CBIA Manufacturing Technology Day Horst Engineering had a trade show booth at the Connecticut Business & Industry Association Manufacturing Technology Day at the State Capitol in Hartford. We displayed our products alongside those of 40 other Connecticut companies. We took the opportunity to show our state legislators how vital manufacturing is to the state economy.
December 2004 East Hartford Community Shelter Once again, the associates of Horst Engineering produced an outpouring of support for the East Hartford Community Shelter. We delivered a car load of clothing, food, toys, and financial contributions to some very thankful folks. This tradition is one that has far reaching benefits..
