Modern American Blacksmiths
About Hubbardton Forge
DESIGN DRIVEN
Hubbardton Forge employs more than 220 people in Vermont and is one of the country’s oldest and largest commercial forges operating today. It all started with two guys, an old barn and some borrowed tools. They had big ideas and a passion for design, respect for high-quality craftsmanship and a belief in the importance of tradition. Our company and our product line have grown over the years, and we continue to tell a story of Vermont through and through. For more than 40 years, Hubbardton Forge artisans have handcrafted each product, one at a time, right here in Vermont.
“We feel manufacturing domestically allows a level of responsiveness to customers we couldn’t otherwise provide, enables partnerships between departments creating a better workplace, keeps well-paying jobs in the U.S.A. and helps to strengthen our local economy. We continue to grow as a domestic manufacturer in a climate where the majority of our competition is using overseas production.” -Bob Dillon, CEO
MODERN AMERICAN BLACKSMITHS
In an age of mass-produced, machine-made products, many companies have abandoned the right way of doing things in favor of maximizing profits. We believe doing things the right way is the only way to do business. We make products where the craftsmanship and skill clearly shows. As our Design Director, David Kitts, notes, “We make heirlooms, not landfill.” Any piece leaving our forge is touched by multiple hands throughout the process of its creation. When you look at a Hubbardton Forge lighting fixture, you’re seeing the artistic achievements of a team dedicated to design. Our family of artisans combines traditional craft knowledge with modern techniques and one-of-a-kind tools we’ve created to give you a piece of Vermont history that holds enduring value.
THE ART OF THE FORGE
By building on traditional techniques while focusing on fine design, Hubbardton Forge has become one of the most respected brands in the lighting industry. Our award-winning team of designers takes inspiration from everywhere – the natural world, sculptures, architecture and their own innate sense of form and function. Whatever the seed of the idea is – once it’s sketched on paper or computer, or shaped from paper, foam or some other choice material, our engineering and forge teams translate it into a sculpture of metal. It’s this environment of collaboration and the ability to rise to a design challenge that sets our people and our work apart from other luxury lighting manufacturers. We don’t take shortcuts – we take the path that produces products we’re proud to stand behind.
ECO INITIATIVES
Our artisans work with natural materials like iron and glass throughout their day. Many members of our forge family spend a good deal of personal time outdoors too. It keeps us connected to the world around us. It also reinforces our dedication to thoughtfully manufacture our products using sustainable practices. We’re proud to be industry leaders in this way. For over 40 years, Hubbardton Forge has been committed to saving energy, preventing waste and reducing its environmental footprint. We use innovative technology to reduce waste. Manufacturing uses recyclable materials. We source domestically and partner with local Vermont vendors whenever possible. From concept through final product, Hubbardton Forge designs with energy efficiency in mind. Eco-friendly initiatives we’ve pioneered include: one of the first in Vermont to use powder coating and aqueous metal cleaning; and the first in the world to beta-test a phosphate-free bioremediation cleaner for our wash solutions – a product we continue to use today. We are committed to thinking globally as we act locally.
