Times and economic trends change, but as long as there’s a need for sheet metal, Metal Solutions will continue to adapt.

The manufacturer, on Broad Street in Utica, has continued to shift its focus since its inception in 1954 as New Hartford Sheet Metal. Joe Cattadoris Jr., along with his sister Cathy Thiaville, co-own the business founded by their father Joseph Cattadoris Sr., and Henry Nimczyk.

Metal Solutions took advantage of the region’s strong industrial growth through the 1970s by providing products and services to other manufacturers, Cattadoris said.

“There was a lot of industry in the area, so we were very busy with local industry for quite a few years,” he said. “Some of those customers still exist but many of them have either left the area or gone out of existence.”

When industry in the area declined beginning in the 1980s, the company shifted focus to be a product-related job shop. Now, the business makes specialty sheet metal products for a variety of businesses, including air conditioner, boiler, bus, train, electronic, medical and wireless communication manufacturers. Continue reading …