Acquisition and Showtime at WMP

Metal forming supplier acquires Metal Skills Plus, LLC and highlights its servo press stamping technology on the “World’s Greatest” television series.

Waukesha® Metal Products (WMP; Sussex, WI), an international metal forming supplier with capabilities including metal stamping, sheet metal fabrication and tool design/build, recently acquired certain assets of Metal Skills Plus, LLC (Deforest, WI). The strategic acquisition further expands WMP capabilities and provides additional diversification of their customer base and markets served.

Some of these new markets include industrial packaging machines, medical equipment and building products. The company is confident that the business gained from this acquisition will integrate well with their current fabrication division based in Grafton, WI and provide greater opportunity for future growth. WMP had similar experiences with the May 2009 acquisition of Parkview Metal Products (Lake Zurich, IL) and foresees a seamless integration of this firm.

In related news, the 330 ton Komatsu servo press in the Sussex stamping facility was highlighted on episode 155 of the ION Network’s Television Series World’s Greatest television series that aired on December 29. The servo press is an innovative technology different from traditional stamping presses and is recognized for improving the metal stamping process while lowering energy consumption. The video demonstrates the difference between servo technology and traditional stamping methods, as well as emphasizes the benefits the servo press gives to metal stampers around the world.

The press is one of the many reasons why Inc. magazine ranked WMP No. 110 in the manufacturing industry on its fifth annual Inc. 500|5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy – America’s independent entrepreneurs. In a stagnant economic environment, the median growth rate of the Inc. 2011 500|5000 companies remains an impressive 94 percent.

The companies on that list report having created 350,000 jobs in the past three years, and aggregate revenue among the honorees reached $366 billion, up 14 percent from last year. “Now, more than ever, we depend on Inc. 500/5000 companies to spur innovation, provide jobs, and drive the economy forward.  Growth companies, not large corporations, are where the action is,” says Inc. magazine Editor Jane Berentson.

From humble beginnings as a two man tool and die shop, Waukesha® Metal Products has developed into an international full-service metalforming manufacturer, delivering the best-cost parts and assemblies in the industry since 1971. www.WaukeshaMetal.com