When people think of Kent, their thoughts often turn to politics and agriculture. Although central Delaware County has the state capital and more than a third of its land devoted to agriculture, it is also a manufacturing hub with operations across the country, internationally and even into space.
Kent County survived the recession with more than 70 manufacturers remaining intact and growing ever since, says Jim Waddington, director of the Kent County Economic Partnership. He said there are currently more than 4,800 manufacturing jobs in Kent County with an average salary of $51,000 and benefits.

Product Description :

The 1 Inch Stainless Steel Coil tube has 1 inch diameter coil pipes whereas the 1/2 Stainless Steel Coil tube has ½ inch diameter pipes. These are different than the corrugated pipes and the Welded Stainless Steel Coil tube can be used in applications with welding possibilities as well. Our 1/2 SS Coil tube is widely used in applications that involve high temperature coils. The 316 Stainless Steel Coil tube is used to pass on gases and liquids for cooling, heating or other operations under corrosive conditions. Our Seamless Stainless Steel Tubing Coil types are of high quality and have less absolute roughness, so that they could be used with accuracy. The Stainless Steel Coiled tube is used along with other types of pipes. Most of the 316 Stainless Steel Coiled tube is seamless due to the smaller diameters and fluid flow requirements.

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These manufacturers include small and medium-sized companies such as Camden-based HandyTube. The company, which has 150 employees, produces seamless stainless steel coiled tubing. They take a large 30 foot long pipe and through an intensive process they stretch it and reduce it in diameter to suit the customer’s needs. By the end of the process, some of these tubes can be a mile long and as thin as a human hair. Manufactured in Delaware, HandyTube products are primarily used in the energy industry, such as offshore drilling and solar antenna manufacturing.
“Global energy demand is going to be very strong over the next few years,” John Coates, the company’s chief executive and president, said in an interview in 2013 after the plant expanded to 70,000 square feet. “This is an exciting future for us.”
While HandyTube sends tubes underwater, another company on Moonwalker Road in Frederick is sending its products into space. ILC Dover is famous for the spacesuit worn by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin when they walked on the moon in 1969. Today the company is setting its sights on Mars. The company partnered with the University of Delaware and NASA to create a new space suit for such missions. Known as Z-2, it is lightweight and flexible and can operate at high pressures.
The company is also taking a more hands-on approach to creating flood control systems, respiratory protection equipment and even mass-produced food packaging.
These actions are not alone. Anyone who has been to the dentist or orthodontist has likely used products from Dentsply Sirona in Milford. That stack of notes you’ve been wanting to hide can be stored in a filing cabinet made by Hirsch Industries Dover.
Kraft Heinz is a great example of this. Since opening in Dover in 1969, the company has morphed from General Foods to Kraft to Kraft Heinz. The latest transformation involves renovating 55,000 square feet of the 1 million square foot facility into a one-of-a-kind bakery for baking croutons and stovetop toppings. The expansion complements other products already produced at the facility, such as Jell-O, Minute Tapioca, Kool-Aid, Tang and Crystal Light.
The expansion will add 28 new jobs to the existing 560. Plant manager Justin Cressler said it has been in a constant hiring phase since then. These positions are technical, maintenance and operator positions, he said.
Cressler, who is also a member of the Kent Economic Partnership, said he believes manufacturing is so good in Kent because everyone is focused on the right things for economic development.
“The city, the state, the municipal government, everyone knows what’s important for economic development,” said Cressler, who moved to the area seven years ago.
Members of these groups actually contact manufacturers and ask questions, he said. They wanted to know what real people working in different industries thought about the possibility of further development in Kent County.
Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce President Judy Diogo is one of those who is always looking for new ways to promote Kent County and its economy. Cressler calls it a “one-stop shop” for information on who to talk to, where to go and what to look for in Kent County.
Diogo believes Kent County has a great manufacturing program. She sees benefits in the district’s diversity.
“We are a manufacturing-friendly country,” said Diogo, who immediately began listing its good qualities. She said the district is working to add utilities to new and existing businesses and is home to several educational institutions. “That means we have a great workforce.”
“We’re trying some things,” Cressler said, noting that Kent County has a large number of nonprofit boards and commissions focused on economic development. “Maybe we’ll get half of it right, maybe we’ll get it all right. Time will show”.
Stove Top Stuffing recently renovated its 55,000 square foot building in Kent County. [/signature]
When people think of Kent, their thoughts often turn to politics and agriculture. Although central Delaware County has the state capital and more than a third of its land devoted to agriculture, it is also a manufacturing hub with operations across the country, internationally and even into space.
Kent County weathered the recession with more than 70 manufacturers remaining intact and growing ever since, said Jim Waddington, director of the Kent County Economic Partnership. He said there are currently more than 4,800 manufacturing jobs in Kent County with an average salary of $51,000 and benefits.
These manufacturers include small and medium-sized companies such as Camden-based HandyTube. The company, which has 150 employees, produces seamless stainless steel coiled tubing. They take a large 30 foot long pipe and through an intensive process they stretch it and reduce it in diameter to suit the customer’s needs. By the end of the process, some of these tubes can be a mile long and as thin as a human hair. Manufactured in Delaware, HandyTube products are primarily used in the energy industry, such as offshore drilling and solar antenna manufacturing.
“Global energy demand is going to be very strong over the next few years,” John Coates, the company’s chief executive and president, said in an interview in 2013 after the plant expanded to 70,000 square feet. “This is an exciting future for us.”
While HandyTube sends tubes underwater, another company on Moonwalker Road in Frederick is sending its products into space. ILC Dover is famous for the spacesuit worn by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin when they walked on the moon in 1969. Today the company is setting its sights on Mars. The company partnered with the University of Delaware and NASA to create a new space suit for such missions. Known as Z-2, it is lightweight and flexible and can operate at high pressures.
The company is also taking a more hands-on approach to creating flood control systems, respiratory protection equipment and even mass-produced food packaging.
These actions are not alone. Anyone who has been to the dentist or orthodontist has likely used products from Dentsply Sirona in Milford. That stack of notes you’ve been wanting to hide can be stored in a filing cabinet made by Hirsch Industries Dover.
Kraft Heinz is a great example of this. Since opening in Dover in 1969, the company has morphed from General Foods to Kraft to Kraft Heinz. The latest transformation involves renovating 55,000 square feet of the 1 million square foot facility into a one-of-a-kind bakery for baking croutons and stovetop toppings. The expansion complements other products already produced at the facility, such as Jell-O, Minute Tapioca, Kool-Aid, Tang and Crystal Light.
The expansion will add 28 new jobs to the existing 560. Plant manager Justin Cressler said it has been in a constant hiring phase since then. These positions are technical, maintenance and operator positions, he said.
Cressler, who is also a member of the Kent Economic Partnership, said he believes manufacturing is so good in Kent because everyone is focused on the right things for economic development.
“The city, the state, the municipal government, everyone knows what’s important for economic development,” said Cressler, who moved to the area seven years ago.
Members of these groups actually contact manufacturers and ask questions, he said. They wanted to know what real people working in different industries thought about the possibility of further development in Kent County.
Central Delaware Chamber of Commerce President Judy Diogo is one of those who is always looking for new ways to promote Kent County and its economy. Cressler calls it a “one-stop shop” for information on who to talk to, where to go and what to look for in Kent County.
Diogo believes Kent County has a great manufacturing program. She sees benefits in the district’s diversity.
“We are a manufacturing-friendly country,” said Diogo, who immediately began listing its good qualities. She said the district is working to add utilities to new and existing businesses and is home to several educational institutions. “That means we have a great workforce.”
“We’re trying some things,” Cressler said, noting that Kent County has a large number of nonprofit boards and commissions focused on economic development. “Maybe we’ll do it half right, maybe we’ll do it half right. Time will show”.