Kennametal: 60 years of changes

Alfonzo Al Munoz has seen many changes at Kennametal during his 43-year career with the company.

As Kennametal celebrated 60 years in Fallon on Saturday, Munoz reflected on the improvements he has seen since 1968, when he first began working there as a high school senior.

The Fallon facility manufactures tungsten carbide and metallurgical powders used to produce numerous impact and wear-resistant tools, serving industries such as aerospace, energy and earthworks. Kennametal has its headquarters in Latrobe, Pa., about 60 miles east of Pittsburgh.

There have been a lot of changes, said Munoz, who spent his early years as a draftsman and then became a quality lab technician in 1974.

In terms of providing a quality product, we have improved tremendously on that, he said.

During the company's early years in Fallon, Munoz said many tasks were done manually, but as the years progressed, more and more automation became an integral part to Kennametal's operation. Munoz said Kennametal has been tremendous in improving technology and listening to its employees.

They (management) accepted the employees' input and if it was feasible, they were good (with it), he pointed out. Kennametal has always been open to that.