HBC Barge launches first vessel
BROWNSVILLE – HBC Barge LLC in Brownsville stirred up the Monongahela River Monday when they launched their first barge since opening under new ownership last spring. The 335-ton barge made a big splash in the river as HBC employees, owners and businessmen from steel vendors and other interested businesses watched the barge enter the water. The barge was docked at the HBC outfitting dock for minor work before being transported to McDonough Marine Service in New Orleans, the barge leasing company that purchased HBC’s first completed barge.
The 195-foot long, 25-foot wide, 101/2-foot high barge is just one of many to come from HBC. According to Walter Kuhns, CEO, the barge took six weeks to complete, but those to follow will be completed in about two weeks.
In November, the company expects to complete work on a 195-foot crane barge for the Army Corps of Engineers.
HBC, with its 92 employees, is preparing to make a big splash in the barge manufacturing industry as well. The company, with $6.1 million in backlog sales and $3.5 million sales pending customer approval, is now owned and operated by three men who previously worked at the company under the former owners.
There are 70 years total of manufacturing and barge building experience between owners, Kuhns, Gabe Centofanti, president and Scott Eicher, vice president.
“We’ve been around a lot of years,” said Kuhns, who has extensive experience in manufacturing and plant management.
He said Centofanti and Eicher both have extensive experience in barge fabrication and engineering.
Kuhns said the launching of their first barge was a little “strenuous” but enjoyable nonetheless.
“It feels really good. We’re really gratified,” he said.
But as former employees of a company they now own, the three know the importance of the employees and the work they do.
“There is no substitute for experience, but the people here work hard and they are the ones that really do the work. They do the work and we provide the opportunity, the tools and the material,” Kuhns said.
All HBC employees proudly watched the launching of their first finished product and took a group picture in front of the barge.
“The workers really care. Every guy that ‘s here had a part in that and they actually got to see the event to its finish,” he said.
In addition to their employees, HBC owners credited a number of companies that helped make Monday a success.
They said the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Enterprise Bank and Fay-Penn Economic Development all helped the company. They also thanked several firms for technical support in dealing with DEP approval.
Centofanti said steel vendors, Kennilworth, Ohio, and Leeco Steel, Canonsburg, were very instrumental in the company’s success,
“Those vendors had enough faith in us to extend us credit terms. A lot of companies won’t do that for new companies,” Centofanti said.
Kuhns also said the company is still accepting applications for skilled and unskilled workers. Anyone interested should call HBC Barge LLC at 724-785-6361.