Hughes Brothers, Inc., has been named the small-sized Nebraska Manufacturer of the Year by the Nebraska Chamber.
The award recognizes Nebraska manufacturers that implement innovative ways to conduct business through the use of products, processes, technologies and strategies. The company was honored at the annual NE Chamber Manufacturing Summit in October.
“Nebraska manufacturers have been answering the call to solve America’s toughest challenges for decades. Hughes Brothers…[is a] shining example of that ingenuity at work,” said Bryan Slone, NE Chamber president. “We’re so proud to have these companies operating and expanding in our communities.”
Headquartered in Seward, Hughes Brothers produces electric transmission and distribution products to reliably transport electricity across the U.S. Products include wood, metal and fiberglass framing and fixtures, engineering services and even storm restoration kits, which have proven critical during floods, wildfires, hurricanes and a derecho.
Hughes Brothers built Nebraska’s first 115kV transmission line from Columbus to North Platte in the early 1930s, which set it up for a national role in the Rural Electrification Act during the Great Depression. Today, the company’s commitment to quality and next-era engineering make it a leader in electrical distribution solutions, with 900,000 customized products. “It’s a big custom job shop. That’s how we started, and that’s what we still do today,” said John Hughes, president of Hughes Brothers.
The company now employs 275 employees and celebrated its 100th anniversary this year, opening a museum to the public featuring the history of electric transmission in Seward.
The City of Seward is served electrically as a wholesale customer of Nebraska Public Power District.