A Legacy of Protection, A Future of Innovation

For over 50 years, Lancs Industries has been the premier U.S. manufacturer of radiation shielding and containment products, serving nuclear power plants, national laboratories, the U.S. Navy, and Department of Energy remediation sites. Our mission has always been to increase safety and reduce risk for workers in hazardous environments—and Charles is uniquely equipped to lead that mission forward.

A Leader Built for Complex Challenges

Charles’s career spans decades of executive leadership in high-stakes industries. From turning around a 110-year-old maritime company to leading $100M clean energy projects at VEX Energy, he has consistently delivered results through operational excellence, strategic growth, and team empowerment.

His experience as a U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Captain and later as a senior executive at Veolia and Vicinity Energy gives him deep insight into the industries we serve—especially nuclear, defense, and energy. He’s led global teams, managed billion-dollar assets, and driven innovation in some of the world’s most complex environments.

A Message from Charles

“Lancs Industries has a proud legacy of protecting those who work in the most challenging environments. I’m honored to join this mission and excited to lead the company into its next chapter—expanding our capabilities, investing in innovation, and continuing to deliver the highest standards of safety and service to our customers.”

— Charles Melcher, CEO, Lancs Industries

Looking Ahead

With Charles at the helm, Lancs Industries is poised to expand our leadership in radiation protection and containment—developing new technologies, strengthening partnerships, and continuing to serve as a trusted supplier to the nuclear, defense, and medical sectors.

Please join us in welcoming Charles to Lancs. The future is bright—and shielded.

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Lancs Industries’ 2021 relocation from Kirkland, Washington, to Albuquerque, New Mexico, marked an exciting new chapter focused on expanding production capacity and national growth. This strategic move, while challenging, positioned Lancs Industries for immense business success over the next decade and beyond.

As President Lewis Byrd notes, “Moving from a 17,000 sq ft. facility where you’ve been located for 47 years, to another 26,000 sq. ft. facility 1,400 miles away was extremely challenging. And building out the new facility with necessary power and infrastructure. On top of all that, we were doing all of this in the middle of a global pandemic!” Despite the hurdles, Lancs Industries persevered. “We overcame every challenge that came up with hard work and a great, committed team,” Byrd adds.

The Albuquerque facility enables Lancs to effectively double manufacturing capabilities while providing ample room for future development. Byrd explains, “There is great demand for our radiation shielding and containment products, and the increased capacity of our new facility in terms of space, operating efficiency and personnel has reduced the lead times for many products by 50-75%.” Lancs Industries has also expanded their pharmaceutical containment sector as well.

Transitioning to Albuquerque has also stimulated local economic growth, with Lancs Industries introducing more than 60 well-paying jobs during its first year while carrying an estimated $10 million impact. The company’s rigorous hiring process reflects their commitment to excellence and quality. “We interviewed approximately 500 people to find the current 60+ team members who had the skills and work ethic to make superior radiation shielding and containment products for our customers,” says Byrd.

Lancs Industries’ move was supported by Albuquerque Economic Development and warmly received by officials like Mayor Tim Keller, who has touted Lancs Industries as, “Another great example of a national company making Albuquerque their home base.” Byrd also credits the “great collaboration with the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance” in facilitating the transition.

The move allows Lancs Industries to cement ties with vital regional partners like Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories. Additionally, Albuquerque’s affordable real estate, reasonable cost of living, workforce availability, and hospitable weather prove ideal for both establishing and retaining top talent eager to contribute to Lancs Industries future achievements. While Lancs Industries’ Kirkland roots hold deep meaning, the opportunity to write an exciting new chapter in Albuquerque perfectly aligns with a mission of spearheading advancements across industrial safety equipment and radiation containment products.

We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Lancs Industries thanks to this vital move.

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FOX’s epic retelling of the Ichabod Crane story in the new series “Sleepy Hollow” has garnered critical acclaim. The thrilling new mystery-adventure takes place in modern times with the classic characters awakening after 250 years.

Lancs Industries containment tents, glovebags and other radiation containment products were featured in an episode titled “John Doe” which aired live on FOX on October 14, 2013. Set designers worked closely with Lancs to create a realistic nuclear contamination event using many of our products to contain the hazardous area.

Click here to view the Sleepy Hollow episode guide. Lancs products are seen beginning at approximately the ten minute mark of the show.

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Lancs and its BOP Filters subsidiary manufacture flexible HEPA grade filters for use in contamination and particulate control applications. The filters are custom designed, and can be produced in various sizes and shapes. These flat and flexible panel filters can be welded or heat sealed by Lancs into polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or polyurethane (PU) plastic film. Our filters have been used in waste volume reduction, personnel protection, hazardous particle containment, environment control for purity of pharmaceutical reactions, containment of explosive environments (such as hydrogen generation during chemical reactions) and over-pressure protection in containment barriers. Applications also exist in biohazards and medical waste disposal, asbestos removal, “clean room” ventilation and equipment protection from hazardous environments.

We produce two standard sizes of filters: 1.5″ and 3.5″ in diameter, but can manufacture them in different sizes if required. Our filters are made to be welded into bags, sleeves or other barrier materials. The filter media function is the same regardless of the barrier material used.

BOP Filter/Barriers LLC was formed in 1998 to develop and market the technology of US Patent Number 5,720,789*.  The technology was invented by Paul A. Pinson at the Idaho National Laboratory (“INL”) as a solution to a nuclear waste bag venting problem regarding the need to allow air and other gasses to vent from sealed waste bags while maintaining containment of the nuclear contamination.  The patent was assigned to the Idaho National Laboratory General Contractor at that time, and BOP Filter/Barriers LLC was formed to develop and commercialize the technology. Mr. Pinson, as BOP Filter/ Barriers LLC’s founder and technical lead worked closely with Lancs over the subsequent years, and in December 2011 Lancs acquired the business including its worldwide exclusive license for the patent from Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, INL’s current general contractor. Mr. Pinson serves as an advisor to Lancs on matters related to filter products.

Check back soon for our new product page featuring Flexible HEPA Grade Filters.

*“Method for Contamination Control and Barrier Apparatus with Filter for Containing Waste Materials that Include Dangerous Particulate Matter”

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Please join Lancs staff at the American Nuclear Society Meeting & Nuclear Technology Expo in Washington, D.C. from October 30-November 3, and the Nuclear D&D Supply Chain Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina from November 17-18.

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