MONROE, CT —Production Metals, a family owned distributor of metals, was founded with three workers in 2018 and has been growing ever since.
Now it has nearly 70 employees and, when it needed more room, Craig Yarde, the owner and CEO, opted to stay in town, moving his company’s headquarters from leased space on Enterprise Drive to property it bought at 421 Old Zoar Road in Stevenson last January.
On Friday afternoon, the company held an open house celebrating its new property with a La Tavola pizza truck, drinks, games of cornhole and live music from The Thirsty Band, starring Clint Blume, Darren Stec, Dan Scott and Rick Spencer.
State Rep. Tony Scott, R-Monroe, presented a citation from the Connecticut General Assembly, Sen. Kevin Kelly and himself.
The citation praised Production Metals for its “unwavering devotion” to providing its customers with “exceptional service,” which has been “nothing short of outstanding.” The legislators also said the company’s growth has tremendously benefited the community.
“Congratulations on your business’ impressive milestones and on your newly renovated office,” Scott said. “We wish you all the best moving forward.”
“This is exactly the type of business we like to see in Monroe,” First Selectman Terry Rooney said, “nice salaries, people that live here and enjoy the town. We’re very happy to be a partner with Production Metals.”
Rooney thanked Yarde for investing in the once desolate Stevenson property, beautifying it and “caring about Monroe.”
Ray Giovanni, who is president of the Monroe Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Monroe Economic Development Commission, presented Yarde and company president, Jim Reeser, with a Beautification Award on behalf of the chamber and commission for Production Metals’ renovated office building.
“We want to keep our customers competitive,” Yarde said. “Once again, U.S. manufacturing will propel our economy by providing high paying jobs.”
Yarde thanked his employees for their hard work, enabling Production Metals to compete with monopolies that were driving out competition.
“This is a warm day, but it’s a good day for Production Metals,” he said. “It’s a great day.”
Production Metals ships 3,000 items a month in its own trucks, while delivering metals to nine states, as well as to destinations all over the world, including Japan and Europe.
The company has 16 trucks in its fleet.
Production Metals’ customers are from automotive, aerospace, semiconductor and defense industries.
Yarde said Production Metals sends metals in shapes customers want, so they can fashion it into parts themselves. “We source and cut,” he said. “We have a Waterjet Cutting Machine.”
At Friday’s open house, Yarde gave a group tour of Production Metals’ operation.
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