For S&H Manufacturing, manufacturing is about more than producing structural steel. It is about investing in its people, building lasting relationships and helping strengthen the infrastructure that keeps America moving.
Based in Houston, Texas, S&H is a family-owned, woman-owned manufacturer specializing in structural steel products for the utility and electrical infrastructure industries. With more than 50 years of experience serving the utility industry, S&H supports distribution, substation, transmission and underground applications.
Today, the company is combining that experience with new technology, automation and a growing partnership with Cincinnati Incorporated to prepare for its next chapter.
Built on Integrity
Founded in 1957, S&H has evolved considerably over the decades, but one value has remained constant: integrity.
For S&H CEO Callie Perez, that value is more than a word. Every part manufactured by the company is stamped with the S&H name, representing the company's identity and commitment to quality.
“When it leaves here, it's saying that this is who we are, this is what we provide, and it's quality structural steel every time,” Callie said.
That commitment has helped carry S&H through generations of growth while its woman-owned status has created opportunities to participate in supplier diversity programs and strengthen its connection to the local community.
Bringing Cincinnati Back
S&H's relationship with Cincinnati Incorporated began years ago, when the company operated a Cincinnati shear at its previous facility.
When S&H began developing a growth plan focused on innovation and automation, the company decided to bring Cincinnati back into its operation.
That decision has led to several new investments, including a 175-ton press brake, two 230-ton press brakes and a Cincinnati laser.
For S&H, however, the relationship has become about much more than equipment.
“When they come here, they literally do an assessment, and they say, ‘What is it that you need?’” Callie said.
Rather than simply selling a machine, the CI team works to understand S&H's operation, financial considerations and long-term goals.
That approach has helped turn the relationship into a true partnership.
Investing in People and Technology
Service, support and training were among S&H's top priorities when evaluating new equipment. The company wanted reliable machines backed by a manufacturer that would remain accessible long after installation.
CI's training program has become an important part of that relationship. Trainers spent a week working with S&H employees, helping operators build their skills and confidence with the new equipment.
S&H has since begun modeling its own training approach after CI's program, using cross-training to develop its workforce and transfer knowledge throughout the organization.
At the same time, S&H is investing heavily in technology. The company is implementing a new ERP system and plans to use machine data and analytics to improve quality, equipment performance and overall efficiency.
As S&H integrates its ERP system with CI's software, the company plans to take that connectivity even further.
Made in America
S&H is 100% Buy America and BABA compliant, making its domestic manufacturing capabilities particularly important as the United States continues investing in electrical infrastructure.
That domestic footprint has also helped the company navigate supply chain disruptions.
“We never missed a due date because we are here locally,” Callie said.
For S&H, buying American means building resilience, maintaining adaptability and providing customers with a reliable partner close to home. That same philosophy is part of what makes its relationship with Cincinnati so valuable.
When S&H needs parts or service, it can rely on a U.S.-based manufacturer that can respond quickly. The company's experience with CI has been so positive that S&H is now replacing another machine with a Cincinnati machine, citing the quality, reliability and support it has experienced.
A Family Business in Every Sense
Family is at the heart of S&H Manufacturing.
The company is now operated by multiple members of the same family, but that family mentality extends well beyond those who share a last name.
S&H's leadership believes no job is beneath anyone. Employees are encouraged to understand different areas of the business, from production and maintenance to accounting, sales and supply chain.
That philosophy began with Callie's mother, who joined S&H as a receptionist in 2010. After becoming increasingly involved in operations, she eventually purchased the company in 2017 with the support of the family and those who believed in her leadership.
Since then, the family has continued growing the company together.
That same willingness to learn extends throughout the organization. Eddie Tate, who joined S&H during the COVID-19 pandemic, has taught himself AutoCAD, CNC laser operation, maintenance and other aspects of the company's increasingly automated manufacturing process.
For S&H, that culture of learning is essential to its future.
Building What's Next
As demand for electrical infrastructure grows, S&H is seeing new opportunities involving data centers, substations and EPC projects.
With modern equipment, expanding automation and a growing team, the company is positioned to continue expanding its capabilities while maintaining the quality and reliability its customers expect.
And Cincinnati Incorporated will remain part of that journey.
For Callie, the partnership can be summed up in one word: reliability.
From equipment selection and training to service and future planning, S&H sees Cincinnati as a partner that understands where the company is today and where it wants to go next.
At the heart of it all is the S&H family — not just the family that owns the company, but the 40 men and women who come to work every day and help move it forward.
“Our S&H family is not just our family, it's the 40 men and women that work here also, and we take pride in that.”
That shared pride is helping S&H build more than structural steel. It is building the people, processes and partnerships that will help strengthen America's infrastructure for years to come.
