Taking Aim: How Last Arrow Hits the Mark in Manufacturing and Community

When you’ve fired your last arrow, you’ve given everything you’ve got. That’s the spirit behind Last Arrow Manufacturing, a company whose name was inspired by The Last Arrow: Save Nothing for the Next Life by Erwin McManus—a book about living boldly, pursuing purpose, and leaving nothing in reserve. It’s a fitting philosophy for a team that pours passion and precision into everything they do.

Formerly known as the Tring Corporation, Last Arrow Manufacturing is a premier precision sheet metal fabrication company based in Orrville. Operating from two facilities, the company is proudly celebrating 55 years of excellence in manufacturing.

Last Arrow designs and builds operator cabs, performs both manual and automated welding, and provides full-service metal fabrication, including CNC machining, laser cutting, and powder coating.

Serving a wide range of industries, including transportation, forestry, mining, firefighting, medical equipment, oil and gas, and accessibility solutions, Last Arrow’s work touches everything from heavy industrial equipment to specialized vehicles, reflecting the versatility and expertise of their team.

“Many are surprised by the range of industries we serve,” said Dan Oliver, chief executive officer. “We have a very diverse customer base including work for municipalities, supporting airports by building cabs for tugs and refuelers, producing brackets for the aerospace industry, strikers for concrete, canopies for service body equipment and more. In fact, we have customers as far away as Japan and Israel, including companies supporting the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).”

This diverse customer base has been key to Last Arrow’s success, allowing the company to continually invest in state-of-the-art technologies such as fiber lasers, robotic welding, and advanced 3D design software. “We have a partnership with Lincoln Electric’s Orrville facility and served as a beta site to help them develop new technology,” said Matt Bowling, president of Last Arrow. “We worked with them on laser welding, which allowed Lincoln Electric to test real-world applications and achieve faster, more efficient results than they could in a lab setting. In fact, we were one of the first companies in the U.S. to receive a Cobot.”

Over the past six years, Last Arrow has made significant investments in technology, refining its processes to support more than 20 production lines while remaining cost-effective. By designing and building its own internal fixturing, weld fixtures, and machining fixtures, the company ensures exceptional precision and innovation throughout its operations. These ongoing investments in advanced manufacturing technology, combined with ISO 9001:2015 certification, underscore Last Arrow’s unwavering commitment to quality, safety, and continuous improvement.

Even more impressive than their investment in technology is Last Arrow’s commitment to their employees. “As local business owners, we feel a responsibility to build up our employees to help strengthen the community,” said Bowling. “Our employees want to be here. We have very low turnover, and they appreciate being cross trained to handle a variety of jobs, skills they can carry with them throughout their careers.”

With 90 employees across its two facilities, Last Arrow currently operates one shift, though some of its automated equipment runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “We offer continual training opportunities for our employees,” said Bowling. “This helps us remain competitive and offer more diversity to our customers. We also value employee feedback on ways to improve processes and products.”

Beyond training and skill development, Last Arrow takes pride in fully supporting its employees, both inside and outside the workplace. Many team members live and raise their families in Wayne County, and the company actively encourages and rewards community involvement. From supporting local schools and the Wayne County Fair to helping fund faith-based missions and family programs, Last Arrow’s employees invest their time and resources back into the community they call home. Their stories are inspiring, like the employee who was given a second chance after serving time, and through that opportunity, completely turned his life around. Today, he’s a devoted husband and father, a reflection of Last Arrow’s belief that when people are supported, they thrive.

Looking to the future, Last Arrow has purchased 40 acres in Wooster and currently has an adjacent building under contract that, once finalized, will give the company a total of 103 acres. “We will run all three facilities for a while, the new Wooster location and the two current facilities in Orrville, but the goal is to eventually have everything under one roof,” said Bowling. “The new space will also allow us to accommodate larger items on our assembly lines and better service new and existing customers.”

The company’s name continues to serve as a daily reminder of its philosophy—to give everything you have in pursuit of excellence. Along with the inspiration behind The Last Arrow book, Oliver also referenced the biblical story of Elisha, who shot an arrow out of a window as a symbol of using all your talents to make something better. It’s a fitting parallel for Last Arrow’s journey, investing in technology, people, and community with unwavering commitment and purpose.

To learn more about Last Arrow Manufacturing, visit lastarrowmfg.com.