Local business topic of Byesville Rotary meeting

Pictured: Dennis Harding, Byesville Rotary guest speaker.

Guest speaker for the meeting was Dennis Harding who was asked to present some information about his employer—Fabri-Form.

Harding is native to area. Both he and his wife attended Meadowbrook High School. He went on to get a degree in mechanical Engineering at the University of Akron and continued his education by getting an Executive MBA at OU Lancaster.

He is a long time employee at Fabri Form. He began as a production supervisor and worked up to a managerial position. Currently he is the purchasing and materials manager. Fabri Form has corporate headquarters in New Concord and plants in Byesville and Indiana. Harding reported that Fabri Form employs between 40-60 people in Byesville and another 40-60 in New Concord. The company has been able to maintain business during the recent recession by being flexible and changing as the market changes. In 2009, the business began to grow again and currently growth is strong.

Fabri-Form supports several local service activities such as a Relay For Life Team and the local Red Cross Blood Drive.

Harding explained that Fabri-Form is a private company and was established in 1943 in Byesville. It is still owned and managed by the second generation of the founders .The business originally fabricated and formed plastic parts. During WWII, the company manufactured fighter plane carapaces for the war effort. More recently, the company manufactured face masks for astronauts including John Glenn and produced fire shields for fighter pilots.

Harding reported that at present the company has 3 product lines. The company produces a custom transport packaging which is the size of a standard pallet and can be reused. The second product line manufactures original equipment components such as parts for semi-trucks. This line helped Fabri-Form become a tier 1 supplier for several large truck manufacturers such as Freightliner. In a third line, Fabri-Form makes packaging that is designed to contain a product in such as way that the product will not shift or move during shipping.

Tanya Hitchens, club president, reminded members of several important dates and activities. The Red Eye trip to NYC has been cancelled for this year. The club is supporting a Red Cross Blood drive September 7 at Stop Nine Church of Christ Youth Center in Byesville. Because Hurricane Irene led to cancellation of many blood drives, blood is needed. Club members were encouraged to donate. The club will be holding a chicken BBQ Saturday, September 10 and workers are still needed. Monies raised from the BBQ will be shared with Byesville Volunteer Fire Department.

The club meets 7:30 am every Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Randy Launder, 740-801-0017.