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upplier delivers specialized solutions through diverse inventory and full-spectrum manufacturing services
At Health Care Logistics® (HCL®), thinking differently is more than a mindset — it’s the foundation of the company’s long-term success. Since its beginning, HCL® has embraced innovation, adaptability and a commitment to customer satisfaction.
How did Health Care Logistics® begin and evolve into a national supplier?
That entrepreneurial vision took shape in 1978, when HCL® Owner Gary Sharpe was working for a major pharmaceutical company. He recognized that the shift to unit dose drug distribution and centralized IV production created opportunities for specialized packaging solutions.
When that company sold its U.S. operations, Sharpe seized the moment and launched his own business from his central Ohio home. A spare bedroom served as an office and the garage doubled as a manufacturing plant and warehouse.
From those humble beginnings, HCL® has grown into an enterprise serving more than 13,000 active accounts. Today, the company occupies 417,000 square feet of warehouse space and employs more than 350 professionals who prioritize exceptional customer service.
With an inventory that has grown to include more than 9,000 products, HCL® meets the supply needs of hospitals, pharmacies, chain drug stores and pharmaceutical providers around the world.
Now led by the next generation of the Sharpe family, HCL® continues to navigate the evolving healthcare landscape while remaining focused on its core mission: fostering strong, lasting relationships with customers and employees alike.
“Our focus has always been on the customer and on our people and taking care of them,” said Sharpe’s daughter, HCL® President Bethany Reid, who leads the company alongside her brother, HCL® President Kyle Sharpe. “And I credit that completely to our father for setting that up and then instilling that in us.”
Customer-Centered Innovation at Scale
What differentiates HCL® in serving healthcare customers at scale?
“There are over 60,000 locations in all 50 states and 50 countries using items from Health Care Logistics® and that number keeps growing,” Kyle Sharpe said. “It really makes us excited to see our products so widely used.”
If a product isn’t on the warehouse shelves, it simply means it isn’t available — yet. HCL® offers complimentary search and development services for non-inventory items customers want but can’t find. Together with small product quantities, same-day shipping and hassle-free returns, these services form the pillars on which the company stands.
This level of personalized service allows customers to turn challenges into outcomes that move their businesses forward.
“Customer service is at the heart of what we do,” Reid said. “We work closely with our customers to recognize needs. We seek the right solutions — not just the easy ones — and create win-win situations for all.”
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Our focus has always been on the customer and on our people and taking care of them. And I credit that completely to our father for setting that up and then instilling that in us.
“Customer service is at the heart of what we do,” Reid said. “We work closely with our customers to recognize needs. We seek the right solutions — not just the easy ones — and create win-win situations for all.”
Custom Manufacturing Solutions
How does HCL® support custom manufacturing from concept to delivery?
Delivering exceptional service often means providing custom manufacturing solutions with quick turnaround times. With extensive in-house production capabilities, HCL® helps healthcare professionals solve problems and improve performance in new and impactful ways.
“We are committed to complete product development from concept design to manufacturing and ongoing support,” Kyle Sharpe said. “From our first contact with our customers to the time their products are delivered and thereafter, we are dedicated to providing ideal solutions to their unique needs.”
In-House Specialties
HCL® offers a broad range of customizable solutions across multiple divisions:
Cabinets By Design – Stock and custom cabinetry, carts and shelving with multiple options for colors, hardware, countertops and locks.
Metals By Design – Stainless steel and aluminum products designed to withstand daily clinical use, with customization available for stock items.
Plastics By Design – Fully customizable plastic solutions using acrylic, PETG, polycarbonate, polystyrene, HDPE and PVC.
Print By Design – Custom graphics for labels, banners, bags, magnets, stamps and more, with virtually unlimited print capabilities.
Web-Based Services
What additional services and expansions support HCL®’s continued growth?
In addition to the company’s traditional inventory and custom manufacturing solutions, it also offers web-based services including GoHCLabels®, Stat Stock® and Stat Temp®, each designed to give users greater visibility, control and customization over their supply management experience. Each service includes complimentary support staff to troubleshoot any issue at any time.
Expansion and Growth
In 2025, HCL® laid the foundation for expansion and growth with its purchase of the former RCA building in Circleville, Ohio, just one-half mile from its headquarters. Once renovations are complete in 2026, this 168,000 sq. ft. facility will provide space for HCL® Manufacturing to expand design and production capabilities, allowing team members to innovate with new equipment and better serve more customers in the years ahead.
Reid gives credit for much of the company’s growth and success to the collaboration of multiple departments.
“At HCL®, we are not afraid to try, fail, adjust and try again,” she says.
“This process is all part of creating better solutions for our customers. Our departments do not operate as silos. It is very common for every project to have representation from at least three different areas.”
Values and Community Service
As a proud military-owned company, HCL® is dedicated to supporting its employees, customers and the broader community. The company participates in initiatives that give back to civic organizations and local school programs, as well as food drives and toy drives that benefit those in need. HCL® also sponsors 4-H clubs and athletic teams, sends care packages to its family of military personnel multiple times throughout the year and sponsors the Military Connections program at Dreams on Horseback — a non-profit organization in Blacklick, Ohio, enriching lives through equine-assisted programs.
HCL® is more than a supplier, it’s a trusted partner in healthcare, committed to excellence in customer service, innovation and community impact, and proud to be recognized as Manufacturing Company of the Year.
Evaluating Health Care Products Manufacturing Partners for Clinical Supply Continuity
Executives choosing health care manufacturing partners face rising utilization, tighter budgets, and high expectations from clinicians. Hospitals, pharmacies, and pharmaceutical providers require consistent access to supplies, accurate labeling and packaging, and quick fulfillment as clinical needs shift. Manufacturers are no longer judged only on price or catalog size. Instead, they are evaluated on their ability to anticipate gaps, meet unique needs, and deliver dependable service across care settings.
One defining characteristic of a strong manufacturing partner is depth of inventory combined with the flexibility to address items that fall outside standard stock. Health systems routinely encounter product requests that are difficult to source in small quantities or within compressed timelines. A manufacturer that maintains a broad catalog while offering search and development support for non-inventory items reduces procurement friction and limits the need for fragmented sourcing. Small-order capabilities and predictable shipping timelines support decentralized facilities and specialty departments that cannot absorb bulk purchases or endure extended delays.
Equally important is in-house manufacturing capacity that spans design, production and post-delivery support. Health care environments require cabinetry, carts, shelving, metals, plastics, and custom-printed solutions tailored to clinical workflows. The ability to move from concept through fabrication under one roof improves accountability and shortens development cycles. Decision-makers look for manufacturers that can handle stainless steel and aluminum fabrication, customizable plastic solutions and precision print services without outsourcing core processes. Integrated production disciplines reduce handoffs and allow tighter quality oversight.
Technology-enabled supply management also influences procurement decisions. Web tools provide visibility into labeling, stock, and temperature-sensitive products. This helps organizations manage risk and control costs. Dedicated support teams resolve issues quickly, strengthening the manufacturer-provider partnership. Supply continuity now depends more on coordinated service than just transactional order fulfillment.
Sustained growth and facility investment signal longterm stability. Expanded warehouse space and additional manufacturing capacity indicate readiness to scale as customer demand evolves. Buyers weigh whether a partner’s infrastructure can support thousands of active accounts without compromising service standards. Cross-departmental collaboration within the manufacturer’s organization often yields more cohesive solutions for customers.
Health Care Logistics® (HCL®) exemplifies these attributes. Founded to address specialized packaging needs within pharmaceutical distribution, it has grown to serve more than 13,000 active accounts and over 60,000 locations globally. Its inventory exceeds 9,000 products, supported by complementary search and development services for items not yet stocked, same-day shipping and flexible order quantities. Its Cabinets By Design, Metals By Design, Plastics By Design and Print By Design divisions provide in-house concept-to-production manufacturing. Web-based platforms such as GoHCLabels®, Stat Stock® and Stat Temp® extend visibility and control over supply management, backed by dedicated support staff. Continued facility expansion near its Ohio headquarters underscores commitment to scaling manufacturing capacity. For executives evaluating manufacturing partners in health care supplies, Health Care Logistics® (HCL®) offers a comprehensive, stable option aligned with service depth, integrated production, and sustained growth.
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