SHELBY — A staple Shelby business ranks among Ohio’s top places to work.
Phillips Tube Group was recently selected as one of Ohio Business Magazine’s 2025 Best Workplaces in Ohio, according to a blog post from the Shelby steel tube manufacturer.
All awardees will be featured in the summer 2025 issue of Ohio Business Magazine.
“This recognition spotlights organizations that prioritize employee well-being, operational excellence, and meaningful impact in their industries,” the post said.
“For Phillips Tube Group, it’s a proud reflection of decades-long dedication to producing high-quality, American-made steel tubing, supporting both local communities and global markets.”
The blog posts highlights the deeply-rooted history of Phillips Tube Group in Shelby, beginning with the acquisition of Barker Tower, a TV antenna manufacturer in the city.
Ralph Phillips, the company’s founder, expanded operations in 1979 with the addition of tube mills. By 1984, the division was renamed Shelby Welded Tube. More growth came nine years later with the acquisition of Armco LP’s Tubing Division, which subsequently became Middletown Tube Works.
“Each step in this journey has kept manufacturing firmly rooted in the U.S., helping revitalize regional economies while expanding the company’s national reach,” the blog post said.
Phillips Tube Group forged in Shelby
Following his passing in 2009, Ralph Phillips’ daughter, Angela Phillips, stepped into the leadership role.
Under her guidance, the company earned its WBENC certification in 2010 and expanded operations into Indiana in 2020 with the launch of an advanced technology center, according to the post.
The steel tube manufacturer currently operates in four locations, including Shelby, two locations in Middletown and Richmond, Indiana.
“I grew up knowing that you can do anything you set your mind too and it may take a couple times to figure it out, but it works,” Angela Phillips said previously.
Her leadership has not gone unnoticed, continually gaining recognition that goes beyond the industry.
In 2025, she was honored at the Women MAKE Awards, a national event which celebrates trailblazing women in manufacturing who are driving the future of the industry.
Angela Phillips previously said that while the steel industry is not a career path many women take, she’s proud of the legacy the company has forged.
“I had a great growing up here on the north side of Shelby, Ohio,” she said in 2024. “It’s good to be back here and see the things that we’ve been able to accomplish.”
