Our History

The J. Horst Manufacturing Company was found in 1963 by the late James F. Horst. He started the business in a small shop located next to his home in Orrville, Ohio. In 1964, James hired his first employee and relocated his company to a 2,600 square foot building in Dalton, Ohio. Today, the business has over 80,000 square feet of office and manufacturing space. The facility includes eight outbuildings covering 30,000 square feet – which are used for painting, steel-grit blasting, assembly, and warehousing. 

The company was owned and operated by James’s two sons, Roland and Richard from 2003 to 2012. In December 2012, Richard retired from his position as Vice President. Roland continued in his role as President and became sole owner of The J. Horst Manufacturing Company. In January 2021, Joseph Downs was promoted to President overseeing the daily operations of the company. Roland Horst remains the Chief Executive Officer and sole owner of the company.

As a custom job shop, the company has no name-brand products of its own. However, the parts machined, fabricated and assembled by J. Horst are used in many industries, both domestically and internationally. While the company has no design or engineering capabilities, they work closely with the customers to manufacture all parts according to their specifications and drawings.

The business has grown throughout the years without an outside sales staff or representatives. It has been built from its reputation for quality, fair pricing and reliability. The employees take pride in the work that they produce and the company’s commitment to honesty, excellence and solid Christian principles.

Thank you for taking the time to find out more about The J. Horst Manufacturing Company. Please enjoy our website and forward any questions that you may have to info@jhorst.com.