Business View Magazine | February 2021

82 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE FEBRUARY 2021 “We offer up to three colors for our precast products besides using various techniques to change the appearance of the finished product,” says Kratzer. “For instance, we can sandblast the concrete to expose the aggregate, or use acid etching or epoxy to corrode the concrete when it’s poured into a mold.” Architectural Precast Innovations has managed to specialize in manufacturing highly customized precast concrete products by focusing only on manufacturing. “We don’t have in-house engineers,” shares Kenepp. “We work with engineering firms who specialize in engineering precast concrete products, something that helps us focus on what we do best – manufacturing.” He further explains that the company relies on contractors for transport and installation, freeing them to focus on the manufacturing process. The company currently has around 83 employees, including part-time workers. This team comprises a mix of tradespeople and project managers, primarily from technical training colleges in the area. “We also offer continuing inhouse education to our employees,” Kratzer adds, “using knowledge transfer methods like training trainers, offering in-house certifications, and supporting the OSHA certification of our employees.” API’s state-of-the-art manufacturing plant is housed on a 32-acre parcel of land in the heart of central Pennsylvania. The plant is PCI Certified, meaning it has undergone and passed at least two random annual audits carried out by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI). This certification, alongside CEO Kenepp’s active participation in the Mid-Atlantic Precast Association and PCI, have placed the company at the forefront of advancements in the precast concrete industry. Further underpinning its commitment to quality manufacturing, the company works with quality control technicians with certifications from both PCI and the American Concrete Institute (ACI). “Although there is a lot of competition in the precast