Ohio Gratings Adds A New Division: OGi Architectural Metal Solutions

Ohio Gratings has added a new division, OGi, following the announcement of its joint venture with American Metalco.

Ohio Gratings Inc. in Canton, Ohio, has added a new division to its company—OGi Architectural Metal Solutions. This new division has been created to expand into the architectural metals market providing aluminum, carbon and stainless steel products for projects requiring architectural applications such as sunshades, grilles, fencing, handrail infill, building facades, louvers and ADA walking surfaces.

"The new division was tied into the Florida joint venture with American Metalco," explains Carl Griffin, director of marketing.

In May, Ohio Gratings Inc. had announced a joint venture with American Metalco in Longwood, Fla. CLICK HERE to read more about the joint venture.

Griffin adds, "While they operate within the state of Florida, our new division will focus on hot spots within the United States, looking at opportunities in Chicago and New York City as well as the Southwest. Louvers, grilles and sunscreen are more prevalent in the sunnier, hotter climates in the Southeast and Southwest."

Ohio Gratings expects that its new division will allow it to expand its architectural product offerings into new markets around the country.

Since adding this division the company has hired an individual with experience in the architectural field. "He has helped develop our quality procedures and worked on putting together and designing complete systems to market and sell," Griffin says. "We will add some additional people and refocus others as needed based on volume of sales."

In the meantime, the company is expecting its new division to benefit from its relationship with its joint venture partner.

"We'll learn from American Metalco as they have more experience in this market. Their services include design and structural engineering support for their products, which also are more diverse than our product offering at this point. Our manufacturing facilities in Canton will come up to speed and produce some of the products they currently are buying from other sources. They also have experience installing their products, something we currently stay away from," Griffin says.

"All and all, it's a win-win for Ohio Gratings and our architectural division and partner."

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