June 2013
| Business World Magazine | 169
take ownership of their respective cell as well
as the components they produce. Each cell
has access to their own unique equipment
resources, whether that calls for the fur-
naces, the tilt-pour casting machine, saws or
buffers, etc. The system essentially allows for
increased efficiency, performance measuring
and quality monitoring. Stahl Specialty Co.
was a pioneer in the adopting and advancing
of these operational techniques which are
recognized as best practices today.
Stahl died in 1996 and the family sold
their holdings in 2000, a transition which
saw acquisition from such forces as Thyssen-
Krupp until a private equity group sold the
company to another industry dynamo in Li-
gon Industries. Ligon, based in Birmingham,
Alabama, is recognized as North America’s
largest independent manufacturers of hy-
draulic cylinders, as well as a leading sup-
plier of high definition aluminum castings
through its holdings in more than a dozen
different companies – and Stahl Specialty
Co is a special contributor to that distinc-
tion.
Stahl Specialty Company Sales Man-
ager Tom Browning, a 15-year veteran of the
company who also considers himself as an
unofficial historian and “keeper of records,”
says he has enjoyed reading historical ac-
counts that Glen Stahl and his wife main-
tained from the start of the company. Brown-
ing says Stahl’s wife credits her husband for
“inventing” the processes which ultimately
contributed to its corporate position today.
However, Browning says, Glen Stahl was
more modest, only claiming to “developing
the processes.” In any case, as Browning says,
“He helped make the company what it is to-
day and he taught virtually everyone else in
the world how to effectively produce alumi-
num castings. Our experience in doing this
for so long has helped us maintain distinc-
tion as ‘the experts’ in this industry.”
A MARVEL IN MOTION
Given the range of components Stahl Spe-
cialty provides for automotive, heavy-duty
diesel engines, marine, power generation and
construction purposes, there is validation to
President Spalding’s simple explanation that
the company produces “products that move
the world.” He says the company takes not
only great pride, but also great responsibil-
ity in their role of supporting customers
respective aims to drive forward, and those
motions will prompt further advancements
as well as opportunities for the company.
