History

Horst Sheet Metal is a light gauge sheet metal fabricator, combining old-fashioned, hand-crafted techniques with today's modern CNC controlled equipment to produce unique metal fabrication projects for kitchens, roofing projects, HVAC applications and much more.

Owners Rick & Jeff Horst follow several generations of metal craftsmen starting with their great-grandfather Aldus Mellinger who owned a tin shop in Hinkletown PA in the early 1900's. The tin shop produced roofing, spouting, tin, and sheet iron work.

Aldus's son, A. Z. Mellinger, continued the business, doing metal roofing, build-up roofing, spouting, and sheet metal work. In 1944, A. Z. Mellinger bought I. G. Davis & Sons, in New Holland, an old fashioned tin shop and hardware store. A. Z. Mellinger moved his business to downtown New Holland, combining the resources from the existing business and I. G. Davis & Sons. Horst Sheet Metal still has many of the tools from I. G. Davis & Sons along with a few of their original invoices dated as early as 1911.

Rick's & Jeff's father, Harold M. Horst, worked for A. Z. Mellinger for 20 years before taking over the business in 1972, and subsequently moved the business to our present location on Main St. in New Holland, PA.

Rick & Jeff gradually took over the business in the 1980's. After gaining valuable metal roof installation experience, they began supplying other roofers with custom parts, gradually expanding into the present day blend of custom sheet metal work, roofing supply, and artistic creations.

Today, Rick & Jeff, along with Harold, have over a century of combined experience. Both took as many Industrial Arts courses as they could throughout High School and College. Early in their careers, both fabricated period copper lighting fixtures for their homes, as well as reproductions in tin and copper. Fabrication became a passion, especially for new things that are well done.

At Horst Sheet Metal we take great pride in continuing the tradition of family craftsmanship that began in the early 1900's. Our promise to our customers is the same as that of our predecessors -- to provide personal attention and care to every project we do and to use only the finest quality materials to meet your needs at a fair and honest price.