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Metal With a Mission: Ellwood Group’s Anna Barensfeld on Space, Steel, and Workforce in Western PA

Interview by Jonathan Kersting

What if the steel in your next flight's landing gear, the components in NASA's Artemis rocket, and even the "chopsticks" catching SpaceX rockets were all forged by a family-owned company in Western Pennsylvania?

In this episode of AMP'd Pittsburgh, host Jonathan Kersting sits down with Anna Barensfeld, fifth-generation leader of Ellwood Group — a 115-year-old specialty metals and forgings company headquartered in Ellwood City, PA.

Founded in 1910 by Anna's great-great-grandfather, Ellwood has evolved from a small forge shop making crankshafts into a multi-faceted powerhouse producing high-performance alloys, aluminum, and engineered components for aerospace, defense, energy, and beyond. Anna shares the bold bets that shaped the company's trajectory — from her father's decision to build their own steel melt shop in 1985 during the Rust Belt decline, to today's massive investment in a vacuum induction melting furnace that will produce some of the cleanest, most advanced metals on Earth.

The conversation goes deep on:

  • Ellwood's philosophy of "Metal with a Mission" — how their products power everyday life, from aircraft landing gear to the power grid
  • The critical role family ownership plays in long-term, risk-taking innovation 
  • Ellwood's involvement in cutting-edge projects for SpaceX, including the rocket-catching chopsticks
  • A passionate discussion on workforce development and the Lawrence Mercer Manufacturers Coalition — Anna's initiative to re-energize manufacturing careers in Western Pennsylvania
  • Why manufacturing is thriving, not dying, and the urgent need to inspire the next generation of skilled workers • The advanced technology behind modern steelmaking — robotics, automation, CNC programming, and precision welding

Whether you're in manufacturing, economic development, or simply curious about how the materials behind modern civilization get made, this episode will change how you think about American industry.

Produced at the Huntington Bank Studios as part of the AMP'd Pittsburgh series by the Pittsburgh Technology Council.

Listen now and discover why the future of American manufacturing is being forged right here in Western Pennsylvania.