The H-J Family of Companies, based in High Ridge, broke ground on a new manufacturing facility on Oct. 31. Company officials said once the expansion is finished, it will create an estimated 150 full-time jobs.
Founded in 1969, H-J manufactures components for electrical transformers, switchgears and breakers. The global company has offices in 12 countries and sells products in more than 70 countries, said president and CEO James “Jay” Sheckelton III.
Shekelton said he is excited about the expansion, which will include a new 80,000 square foot facility, expected to cost about $25 million, in what is now the parking lot of one of the company’s facilities at 6217 Hwy. PP in High Ridge. The company’s headquarters are nearby, at 3010 High Ridge Blvd.
Janelle Laster, H-J’s talent success manager, said the project will be complete in about a year. The new facility will expand the company’s manufacturing capabilities, and will also provide more office, storage and employee training space, she said.
Shekelton’s father, Jim, and grandfather, Fred, founded the company with family friend, Lloyd Evitts, 56 years ago. The “H” in H-J stands for Henry, Evitts’s son, who now serves as vice president of manufacturing at the company. The “J” stands for Jay, who has served as president for about 10 years. Shekelton founded H-J International in 1992 to sell the company’s products to a global market, but he said both companies merged under the Family of Companies name four years ago.
Shekelton said he was 2 when his father and grandfather joined with Evitts to found the company.
“I always tease, I was the only kid who had indestructible castings as toys,” he said. “I’ve grown up in the business. I started traveling with my dad when I was 9, visiting customers, which was really fun. I’d be running around the factory floors, bugging people, while he was trying to sell products.
“To me, it’s amazing watching the growth of this company. We started out here in Jefferson County with about an 800-square-foot shed, less than that. We’ve continued to grow in Jefferson County through the years. We’ve added expansions on a building on the Boulevard, and we’ve added multiple expansions (at the Hwy. PP facility). I’m proud that we’re adding another 80,000 square feet here. We’re very proud to have American workers and American-made products coming out of this facility.”
The transformer industry is about two years behind on production due to backlogs in manufacturing in other countries, Laster said, meaning the global supply chain is severely backed up. She also said costs for the products have increased four to nine times due to the delay.
By expanding manufacturing in High Ridge, Laster said H-J is securing the supply chain in America.
The backlog can also be caused by vandalism and natural disasters, like floods, which take out transformers and make it difficult to quickly replace them, she said.
“We’re growing the economy, and we’ll be better able to loosen up some of that transformer backlog,” Laster said.
Shekelton said the heavy electrical energy sector is “a wonderful industry” to be in right now.
“Right now, the infrastructure really needs a lot of work to be built up, so we’re in the right place at the right time,” he said. “This is an American product that we send all over the world.”
State Rep. David Casteel of District 97 said at the groundbreaking ceremony that the energy demand has never been higher, considering the recent call for more data centers, cryptocurrency mining and the implementation of artificial intelligence, or AI. In an Oct. 15 press release, Dennis Gannon said he is prepared to welcome the development of data centers in the county, calling them an opportunity for the county to lead in the tech industry.
Dena McCaffrey, president of Jefferson College, said she, too, is happy about the H-J expansion, calling it an exciting milestone at the groundbreaking ceremony.
She said the college, which started offering classes in 1964, and H-J both have deep roots in the county.
“Today’s groundbreaking isn’t just about new facilities; it’s about progress, innovation and the continued investment in our county’s future,” McCaffrey said. “Our missions align in meaningful ways. We both believe in developing talent, fostering opportunity and supporting the local community. H-J’s commitment to expand right here in High Ridge speaks volumes about their belief in this community and its people.”
McCaffrey said the college and H-J have a longstanding partnership, collaborating on workforce development initiatives, training programs and employment opportunities for students post-graduation. She said the college looks forward to further collaboration through more training and apprenticeships.
“This expansion represents new possibilities for students, for the workforce and the community we serve together,” she said. “We can ensure that Jefferson County remains a place where innovation thrives, businesses succeed and people build meaningful careers close to home.”
Laster said it was important that H-J continue to expand its manufacturing facilities in High Ridge, where it all started. She said people all over the world use Jefferson County-made and H-J-sold products every day without even realizing it.
“If you turn on your lights, some of that electricity goes through H-J components – and that’s not just locally; that’s nationally, as well as globally,” she said.
“(The energy demand) is a national security issue, and we need companies to manufacture these products to make us most efficient,” Casteel said. “It’s nice to see a company local like this stay gritty, determined and successful when other companies have left this country for greener pastures and lower pay. They’ve always stayed in Jefferson County, and that’s important.”