This story is sponsored by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce.
From museum displays at the St. Louis Arch to military installations in the Philippines and entrance mats in the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, Hendrick Screen Company’s custom metalwork can be found across the globe — all proudly manufactured in Owensboro.
Now celebrating its 51st year, Hendrick Screen has evolved from a coal industry supplier to a global leader in custom stainless steel fabrication. The company’s work has been shipped to China, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Puerto Rico, and beyond — and is also featured in high-profile U.S. locations like the new Atlanta Braves stadium.
“We’ll screen anything from sewage to gold — quite literally,” said Charlie Payne of Hendrick Screen. “We don’t make window screens or do screen printing. We manufacture stainless steel screening systems and architectural features that serve industries around the world.”
Founded in 1974 as a spinoff of Hendrick Manufacturing in Pennsylvania, the Owensboro-based company was originally created to serve the coal mining industry. Today, Hendrick’s markets are far more diverse, ranging from water filtration and power plant cooling systems to architectural panels and industrial components for food, paper, and petrochemical companies.
“We’ve grown steadily over the years, and that’s because we’re adaptable,” Payne said. “Ten years ago, we didn’t have an architectural department. Now, it’s almost half our business.”
Their work includes massive water intake screens designed to pull water from rivers while filtering out debris and aquatic life, entrance mats that improve safety and add visual appeal, and custom-designed metal grates for public spaces. The company even provided tree grates and decorative metalwork for the lifestyle district surrounding the Braves’ stadium in Atlanta.
Though their reach is international, Hendrick has remained grounded in Owensboro, employing 50 people and maintaining its family-owned roots.
“It’s always been family-owned — different families over the years, but the feel has stayed the same,” Payne said. “We’ve had people work here for 40 or 50 years. It’s a good place to work, and we take care of our team so they can take care of our customers.”
Payne said Hendrick stands out for its willingness to customize every order and maintain strong relationships with both customers and suppliers.
“We make it easy to do business with us,” he said. “Some places treat customers like an inconvenience. We do the opposite.”
Locally, Hendrick has completed projects for Owensboro Grain and has quoted work for Wendell Foster and Green River Distillery. Payne said their specialized components — such as “liquor drainers” used in paper processing — may also be in use at nearby industrial facilities.
“If you can draw it on a piece of paper, we can build it,” Payne said. “And it doesn’t matter if it’s one small piece or a dozen oversized grids being shipped out on a flatbed — we treat every job like it matters.”
With in-house engineers, CNC technicians, fabricators, and electrical specialists, Hendrick continues to thrive by doing what it does best: building high-quality, functional products that solve real-world problems.
“People want clean water. They want their power plants running. They want safe, attractive walkways,” Payne said. “We’re here to make that happen.”
The Chamber Member of the Week program is a Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce membership benefit. Founded in 1913, the Chamber has worked to provide valuable benefits and services to member businesses and individuals for over a century.
Today, with nearly 1,000 members, the Chamber is a guiding force in community and business development initiatives and serves as the center of business advocacy for the Greater Owensboro region.
To learn more about becoming the Chamber Member of the Week or inquire about Chamber membership, contact Kitty Jones, director of membership, at 270-926-1860 or [email protected].
