Weaver Materiels Service
Three generations of the Weaver family have steered Weaver Materiel Service, Inc., through more than a half century of continued growth and profitability. The Jamestown firm is a 2000 recipient of a Galanis Award for Excellence in Family Business.
Founded in 1944 by Fred L. Weaver Sr. as a foundry supply operation in Buffalo, Weaver Materiels was moved by Fred Weaver and his wife, Betty, to Jamestown in 1952. It has since been handed down to Fred Weaver’s son, Don Weaver Sr., who in turn passed the business along to his son, current company president Don Weaver Jr. Don Weaver Sr. is the company’s chairman of the board.
Fred Weaver realized early on that knowledge of ceramics would be important to his company’s success and encouraged Don Sr. to study ceramic engineering. Both Don Weaver Sr. and Jr. are Alfred University graduates, having obtained their bachelor degrees in ceramic engineering in 1957 and 1983, respectively.
By 1960, the company was producing foundry materials such as no-bake binders, ceramic tile, core and mold coatings and equipment.
The company’s clients include Fairmount Minerals (whose Wedron Silica Division Weaver Materiels has represented since 1944; Foseco, Inc., United Erie, American Minerals and Industrial Ceramic Products. Weaver Materiels has warehouse operations in Buffalo, Erie, Homer City and Reading, PA, and Holyoke, MA.
Weaver Materiel Services has shown steady growth over the years, from the husband-and-wife team of Fred and Betty Weaver in 1944 to the current operation, which employs 10 workers.