FocusOn – Global Insights. Features reports on the Industry’s developing technology as well as interviews with the top executives of manufacturers and end users of equipment for the industries served by FocusOn publications.
In this edition, we interview Sean McLanahan, CEO, McLanahan Corporation.
Sean McLanahan
Sean McLanahan represents McLanahan Corporation’s sixth generation of family ownership and management. He is the company’s CEO and is accountable for developing and implementing strategic visions, managing the overall resources of the company, building and maintaining a great culture, building and leading senior executives, and ensuring the overall financial success of the company.
Sean joined McLanahan Corporation in 1994 after earning a degree in industrial management with a minor in economics from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is active in many organizations and associations in the industries served by McLanahan, as well as his community.
McLanahan Corporation
Founded in 1835, McLanahan Corporation has a rich history. For almost 200 years, the company has served their customers with a passion for innovation. From a small, foundry operation in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania to becoming an ISO 9001:2008 global manufacturer of custom engineered process solutions, McLanahan Corporation has remained dedicated to their values and to providing long-term careers for their employees and opportunities for future generations.
The interview
We asked Sean McLanahan…
There are a number of companies in the industries that you compete in, but few can boost a 183-year history. How is it that McLanahan has endured all these years, through depressions, recessions and two world wars and even the American Civil War?

Those two pieces of equipment are still standard in the mining industry today. They also built the first Rotary Coal Breakers and many other equipment firsts. Our legacy has seen us continually diversifying the product offerings, geographic locations and markets served. The endurance is due to the low and slow approach — doing things
conservatively coupled with a passion of never being satisfied.”
In the early years of your life, did you know you would work at McLanahan or did you have a plan to do something when you grew up?
What (and when) was your first job at McLanahan?
In these many years at the company that bears your name, what have been your personal highlights?
What have been (or is) the biggest challenge for you at McLanahan?

“Employee communications. Being spread across the globe, managing time zones can be a real chore. We use video conference heavily, but sometimes that means we have to meet at odd hours. Also, ensuring that each of our global employees know what is going on and why is critically important to our success, so we focus on many forms of communication, including face-to-face meetings, several types of written newsletters, podcasts, an intranet website and more.”
What is the most successful piece of equipment that has been introduced since you became involved in the senior management of the company?

“The Filter Press. Since we had sold cyclones, dewatering screens, thickeners and more, adding the Filter Press seemed like a natural progression in the tailings management area. The mining industries are moving away from ponds to mechanical separation of the effluent after the thickener is gaining popularity. We developed our first 2mx2m Filter Press in 2012 and have sold countless of them to various industries from coal to aggregate.”
Since McLanahan Corporation purchased the assets of Eagle Iron Works in 2012 does EIW run independently as a competitor?

“Yes, we have maintained the EIW brand independently due to its tremendous strength and we have maintained a separate path to market through their own dealer network.”
Does McLanahan and EIW work together on R&D?
With such a small population base in Hollidaysburg to draw from, is it difficult find enough of the right people to work at McLanahan.
We have been told that there are several “long-timers” at the company. Why do people stay at McLanahan?
In addition to North America, the McLanahan website shows representation in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and even Russia. Does McLanahan manufacture products in any of those markets or are they all importers from your US plant?
Of the markets outside of North America, what are your largest markets?
Many of our readers have no idea that McLanahan is very active with products used the agricultural industry. Do the agricultural products represent a significant part of the McLanahan business?

“McLanahan is involved in a wide variety of industries and applications. The agricultural division is certainly significant for the products and services we supply, specifically within the dairy industry. We have been involved in that space for more than 20 years and have invented new products and processes along the way that have revolutionized the dairy industry.”
When we ask manufacturers and service providers what is the number one request from customers, we hear a variety of answers. What do customers most commonly ask of you?
What is the strangest application you have ever seen a McLanahan machine used for?
Looking forward, what do you see as emerging trends in mining and aggregate industries that will have the greatest impact on McLanahan products of the future.

“Automation will certainly continue to gain more traction in preventative maintenance and equipment monitoring, but we see a bigger demand on our dealer network and us for on-site diagnostics and field service. Many mining operations have cut down on their on-site maintenance staff, so they rely on manufacturers (and their dealer network) for help troubleshooting and conducting routine maintenance. Therefore, designing equipment for ease of maintenance and serviceability is even more critical today.”
When the workday ends for you, what makes it a good day?
If you could give one piece of advice to the younger you, what would it be?