NBDC 2016 Manufacturing Business of the Year: Hornady Manufacturing
Hornady Manufacturing Company, a world leader in bullet, ammunition, reloading tool, accessory design and manufacturing in Grand Island, has been a client of the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) since 2004.
Founded in 1949 by Joyce Hornady, the company began making bullets in a rented garage in downtown Grand Island. The business remains family-owned today.
Hornady Manufacturing became an NBDC client when it sought the assistance of Scott Knapp of the Procurement Technical Assistance program in Kearney. Knapp provided Hornady general contracting assistance, including information about the Central Contractor Registry (CCR), Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) and advice on responding to solicitations.
Chuck Beck replaced Knapp as NBDC’s consultant in Kearney, continuing to assist the company. Beck helps the company update and renew its System for Award Management (SAM) registration, develop its Dynamic Small Business Search profile, and provides information regarding government contracting.
In 2013, Beck reviewed the company’s BidMatch profile and was able to improve the notifications BidMatch provides. That led to an increase from roughly 50 notifications each month to approximately 500 per month. Hornady Manufacturing reviews BidMatch notifications to respond to solicitations, or to forward them to their distribution network as possibly opportunities.
Scott Javins, Law Enforcement/Military Product Manager, says the BidMatch profile is a source of many opportunities.
“Every day, we receive updates regarding new contracts being posted and which agencies are specifying our ammunition in their contracts,” he says. “The advanced search Chuck arranged gives us even more detailed information.”
Tracking government contracting opportunities and tapping into Beck’s knowledge and NBDC’s services helps the company achieve its goals and vision, Javins says. “Chuck does a great job, not only dealing with our SAM registration but he also has a lot of insight on what they are specifically looking for and knows how we do business,” he says.
The NBDC offers other valuable opportunities, Javins says, including a “Meet the Buyers” event he attended in Omaha. “This event allowed us an opportunity to not only meet the buyers from various government entities,” he says, “it also allowed us to see what other government contractors are doing, even if they aren’t in the ammunition industry.”
The first year of business, Hornady Bullets’ total sales were $10,000—a figure that increased three-fold the next year. Today, Hornady Manufacturing has more than 300 employees and in one day on one press is capable of turning out more bullets than the company’s entire production that first year.
The recipient of numerous industry awards, Hornady Manufacturing is generous to the Grand Island community, supporting organizations and charitable events including United Way, Platte River Charity Shoot, Heartland Public Shooting Park, Hope Harbor, Central-Plains Chapter of the American Red Cross, Stuhr Museum and others.
Javins says that as Hornady Manufacturing continues to expand its facilities and operations, including adding employees and new machinery, the company looks for unique ways to serve the market. “We strive to be innovative and forward-looking as we continue to invest in the future.”